NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced the nine semi-finalists for the 14th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy.

These distinguished young men represent the qualities embodied by Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott – Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The winner of the 2017 Lott IMPACT Trophy will be announced at The Lott IMPACT Trophy Award Banquet, held at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach on Dec. 10. The award show will be televised live on CBS Sports Network at 5:30 PST.

The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation will make a $25,000 donation to the general scholarship fund of the winner’s university and $5,000 to each of the schools of the runner-ups. In 13 years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has now donated more than $1.3 million, including over $500,000 to universities throughout the country.

For more information on The Lott Trophy visit:
www.LottImpactTrophy.org.

The 2017 Lott IMPACT Trophy Semi-Finalists:

Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Malik Jefferson, DE, Texas
Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa
Micah Kiser, LB, Virginia
Hercules Mata’afa, DL, Washington State
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB, Oklahoma
Harrison Phillips, DL, Stanford
Cameron Smith, LB, USC
Drue Tranquill, S, Notre Dame

A Look at the Semi-Finalists

Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S, Alabama (9-0) – Mid-season All-American…Has 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for losses, 4 passes broken up, one block and one forced fumble…All-American…6 interceptions, 4 four touchdowns, 66 tackles last season…Semi-finalist for Jim Thorpe Award…Academic All District with 3.34 GPA…Projected first round NFL pick…Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week Oct. 7.

Malik Jefferson, LB/DE, Texas (4-5) – Leads team with 86 tackles, has 6 tackles for losses and 3 quarterback hurries…Commissioner’s Honor Roll…Top recruit in Texas in 2015…Benched in 2016, has come back to play at a high level.

Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa (6-3) – Mid-season All-American…4th in the nation with 11.3 tackles per game, 9 ½ tackles for loss , 2 ½ sacks, interception, forced fumble, 5 passes broken up….He had 128 tackles as a sophomore and came back with 124 last year…A Butkus finalist as a junior…National Honor Society in high school… Named to Senior Class Award List…Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week Sept. 9.

Micah Kiser, LB, Virginia (6-3) – 6th in the nation in tackles with 10.8  per game (97 total). Has 6 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, fumble recovery and 3 passes broken up. Semi-finalist for Lott Trophy last season, 2nd team AA., 2nd team Academic AA. Named to Senior Class Award List…Already has his degree…Campbell (academic Heisman) Award finalist…Two-time Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week, Sept. 16 and Nov. 4… Mid-season second-team All-American.

Hercules Mata’afa, DL, Washington State (8-2) – Mid-season All-American…Has 16.5 tackles for loss, among the nation’s leaders and tops in the Pac-12, 6.5 sacks, 5 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and 33 total tackles. All Pac-12 performer from Hawaii…Had 13.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 47 total tackles in 2016.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB, Oklahoma (8-1) – Mid-season All-American…Political Science graduate…53 tackles, 2nd on team…5 quarterback hurries in one game…Has 14 tackles for loss , 8 sacks (6th in nation), 3 forced fumbles…2nd team All Big-12…12 tackles for loss, 9 sacks in junior season…Parents are from Nigeria.

Harrison Phillips, DL, Stanford (6-3) – Leads team with 68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries,  3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and a blocked kick…Academic All Pac-12, double major in sociology and science, technology and society (will graduate early)…Mentors at-risk minority youth..AFCA Good Works Team (one of 11 in country)…Lott IMPACT Player of the Week Oct. 28.

Cameron Smith, LB, USC (8-2) – Third-year starter…Has 83 tackles this year, leads Trojans…8 tackles for losses…Interception vs. Utah…Team captain…Two-time Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week, Sept. 23, Oct. 14.

Drue Tranquill, Rover, Notre Dame (8-1) – Named to Senior Class Award List….230-pound defensive back …Has 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, 3 fumble recoveries and an interception, 2 passes broken up, 3 defended…Academic All District and Academic All-American…Team captain..Majoring in mechanical engineering.

Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT Trophy

2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2013 – Anthony Barr, UCLA
2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA
2015 – Carl Nassib, Penn State
2016 – Jabrill Peppers, Michigan