AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn senior linebacker Derick Hall is one of 42 players on the watch list for the 2021 Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced.
Hall returned for his senior season on the Plains after a banner junior year in which he recorded nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
He made three sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and six tackles in the Iron Bowl, earning recognition on the coaches' All-SEC second team for the season.
In three seasons on the Plains, Hall has registered 88 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 12. 5 sacks. As a sophomore in 2020, Hall twice earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performances vs. LSU and Mississippi State.
College defensive players are nominated to the Watch List based on the IMPACT on their teams on and off the field. Auburn's Derrick Brown won the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2019.
Named after former NFL Hall of Fame star Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy annually goes to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, a player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, all characteristics exhibited by Lott during his illustrious playing career.
The 42 represents Ronnie Lott's number during his legendary career. There are 15 linebackers, 14 defensive backs and 13 defensive linemen on this year's Watch List.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is the only major college football award that considers character.
The annual winner is selected by a national voter panel, consisting of former winners, members of the media, coaches, and members of the Board of Directors of The IMPACT Foundation.
The winner is announced at a gala black-tie event Dec. 11 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Ca. The event has been sold out the first two years.
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
2017 – Josey Jewell, Iowa
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Derrick Brown, Auburn
2020 – Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
2021 – Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer