April 7, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern senior defensive end Corey Wootton (Rutherford, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) added another preseason honor to his resumé as he was named to the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Ronnie Lott at a luncheon in Newport Beach, Calif.
The Watch List is made up of 42 of the nation's top defensive players who have had the biggest IMPACT on their teams on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Wootton, who earlier this year was named to the Lombardi Trophy Watch List, was the team MVP last season when he recorded 10 sacks. A 6-foot-7, 265-pound senior, Wootton was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season, and a freshman All-American in 2006. Wootton is recovering from January knee surgery after suffering an injury in the Dec. 29 Valero Alamo Bowl.
There are 14 repeat nominees, the most in the six years of the award, including seven quarterfinalists from a year ago and semifinalist Eric Berry of Tennessee, an All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.
The other quarterfinalists nominated this year are Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year; South Carolina's Eric Norwood, who led the SEC in sacks, Florida's Brandon Spikes, Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon, Kentucky's Jeremy Jarmon, BYU's Jan Jorgensen and South Florida's George Selvie.
Thirty-eight different schools are represented on the Watch List. Alabama, BYU, Georgia and UCLA each have two players nominated.
Named after Hall of Famer Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, The Lott Trophy is the only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005, Daymeion Hughes of California was the recipient in 2006, Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007 and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State last year. Georgia, Alabama, California, LSU and Ohio State each have received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.
In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has now donated nearly $650,000 to various charities, including the four universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of many retired NFL players and Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
The winner will be announced at a gala black-tie banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif., on December 13, 2009.
For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit Lotttrophy.com.
The 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List
Mike Anello, DB, Notre Dame, Sr., 5-10, 170 (Orland Park, Ill.)
Pat Angerer, LB, Iowa, Sr., 6-1, 232 (Bettendorf, Iowa)
Matthew Bauman, LB, BYU, Sr., 6-1, 232 (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Patrick Benoist, LB, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 222 (Southlake, Texas)
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee, So., 5-11, 195 (Fairburn, Ga.)
Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State, Sr., 6-5, 275 (Tupelo, Miss.)
Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama, Sr., 6-5, 365 (Ft, Myers, Fla.)
Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA, Sr., 6-1, 240 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Harry Coleman, LB, LSU, Sr., 6-2, 205 (Baldwin, La.)
Kurt Coleman, S, Ohio State, Sr., 5-11, 188 (Clayton, Ohio)
Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia, Jr., 5-11, 228 (Snellville, Ga.)
Brian Duncan, LB, Texas Tech, Sr., 6-1, 238 (Baton Rouge, La.)
Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan, Sr., 6-2, 270 (Detroit, Mich.)
Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College, Jr., 6-4, 238 (Wayne, Pa.)
Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU, Sr., 6-3, 267 (Sugar Land, Texas)
Jeremy Jarmon, DE, Kentucky, Jr., 6-3, 268 (Collierville, Tenn.)
Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State, Jr., 6-1, 222 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Jan Jorgensen, DE, BYU, Jr., 6-3, 260, (Helper, Utah)
Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State, Sr., 6-3, 226 (Fountain Hills, Ariz.)
Sean Lee, LB, Penn State, Sr. 6-2, 236 (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Taylor Mays, S, USC, Jr., 6-4, 225 (Seattle, Wash.)
Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama, Jr., 6-4, 249 (Decatur, Ala.)
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma, Jr., 6-4, 300 (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Bo McNally, S, Stanford, Sr., 6-0, 210 (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech, Jr., 6-4, 270 (Coatsville, Pa.)
Roddrick Muckelroy, LB, Texas, Sr., 6-2, 235 (Hallsville, Texas)
Mike Nixon, LB, Arizona State, Sr., 6-3, 227 (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Eric Norwood, DE, South Carolina, Jr., 6-0, 258 (Acworth, Ga.)
Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke, Sr., 6-6, 300 (Houston, Texas)
Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia, Sr., 6-3, 298 (Sunrise, Fla.)
Joe Pawelek, LB, Baylor, Sr., 6-2, 240 (San Antonio, Texas)
George Selvie, DE, South Florida, Jr., 6-4, 242 (Pensacola, Fla.)
Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida, Jr., 6-3, 245 (Shelby, N.C.)
Darrell Stuckey, DB, Kansas, Sr., 6-1, 205 (Kansas City, Mo.)
Ndamukong Suh, DE, Nebraska, Sr., 6-4, 300 (Portland, Ore.)
Syd'Quan Thompson, DB, California, Sr., 5-9, 187 (Sacramento, Calif.)
Alterraun Verner, DB, UCLA, Jr., 5-11, 178 (Carson, Calif.)
T.J. Ward, DB, Oregon, Sr., 5-11, 200 (Antoch, Calif.)
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri, Jr., 6-1, 230 (Jasper, Texas)
Ryan Winterswyk, DE, Boise State, Sr., 6-4, 258 (La Habra, Calif.)
Reed Williams, LB, Sr., West Virginia, 6-1, 228 (Moorefield, W. Va.)
Corey Wootton, DE, Sr., Northwestern, 6-7, 265 (Rutherford, N.J.)