Latest news with #LottIMPACTTrophyWatchList
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson football standouts named to 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
Clemson football standouts named to 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List Two Clemson football players have been named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. Tigers defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods are two of 42 players -- and 16 defensive linemen -- to place on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, which recognizes the nation's top defensive player who excels both on and off the field. Both are coming off standout seasons for Clemson in 2024. Parker, a four-star recruit from Phenix City, Ala., registered 57 tackles (19.5 for loss) and 11 sacks last year while starting all 14 games. He forced six fumbles and had one pass breakup. Parker enters his junior year with 105 tackles (32.0 TFL), 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in 27 career games (17 starts). Woods, a five-star recruit out of Thompson High School in Dabo Swinney's hometown area of Alabaster, Ala., played in 11 games last year. He made 10 starts and recorded 28 tackles (8.5 for loss), three sacks and a forced fumble in his sophomore season. Woods has 54 tackles (11 TFL) and two forced fumbles in two seasons at Clemson. Both Woods and Parker have appeared on way-too-early 2026 NFL mock drafts as first-round picks by PFF, ESPN and Yahoo Sports. The Lott Trophy is named after College Football and NFL Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott. The winner of the award will be announced during college football's awards season in December. Clemson opens the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers on Aug. 30 at Memorial Stadium. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football DL Caleb Banks named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
Florida football DL Caleb Banks named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List Florida football defensive lineman Caleb Banks has been named to the 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, an honor that recognizes the nation's top defensive player who excels both on and off the field. Banks, a redshirt senior from Detroit, Michigan, is one of 42 student-athletes nationwide selected by the Lott IMPACT Trophy Board of Directors for consideration. The award–named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott–spotlights players who demonstrate Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. The Lott IMPACT Trophy winner will be announced in December during a nationally televised ceremony in Newport Beach, California. After transferring to the Florida Gators in 2023, Banks quickly became a force on the Gators' defensive line. In the 2024 season, he recorded 21 total tackles, including seven for loss and 4.5 sacks. Banks' disruptive presence up front earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following a dominant performance against the Ole Miss Rebels, where he notched 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble in Florida's win over the LSU Tigers, finishing the game with a career-high 64 snaps and the top PFF grade of his season. Off the field, Banks is a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, underscoring his commitment in the classroom. His leadership, both vocally and by example, has made him a foundational piece of the Gators' defensive identity entering the 2025 season. Originally from Southfield A&T High School in Michigan, Banks joined the Orange and Blue after two seasons with the Louisville Cardinals. He is expected to play a significant role for Florida's defensive front this fall as the Gators look to make some noise in the SEC. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Illini edge-rusher Gabe Jacas a rising prospect for 2026
Illini edge-rusher Gabe Jacas a rising prospect for 2026 It's a widely held misnomer that non-College Football Playoff bowl games don't mean anything. This is especially true for individual players looking to improve their NFL Draft stock. A headliner game against an out of conference opponent provides the right time to shine, and Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas did exactly that in the Citrus Bowl win over a top 15 South Carolina team. Going up against an offense led by LaNorris Sellers (who projects as a top three QB, top 10 overall pick in the 2026 draft) Jacas posted a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and eight tackles. He was very disruptive, and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer took notice in the postgame press conference, referring to Jacas as "a really good player on the defensive line." On Wednesday, Jacas was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, which consists of the top 42 defensive players in college football based on their impact both on and off the field. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter of Colorado, claimed this award as well. Jacas, who can play as a kind of OLB/DE hybrid, started all 13 games for the 10-3 Illini last season, totaling 74 tackles, 13.0 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Under head coach Bret Bielema, Illinois has quietly become a NFL talent factory, and Jacas might have the highest draft stock on the team. That's because his skill set is exactly what the NFL is looking for right now- 3-4 OLBs whose primary job is to hit the quarterback. Jacas is a disruptive edge rusher, with a penchant for getting into opposing backfields, early and often. With these services in high demand, his future looks bright.
