Just when you think you’re done with these watch lists for another year, they pull you back in.
Back in May, the Lott IMPACT Trophy released its initial watch list consisting of 42 players. Tuesday, the award that’s given annually to the defensive player who has the biggest IMPACT — Integrity, Maturity, Performance,Academics, Community and Tenacity – on their teams both on and off the field added four names to that group, including one player each from the ACC, Big Ten, Conference USA and Pac-12.
Below are those players:
Xavier Cooper, Washington State, DL
Christian Covington, Rice, DL
Anthony Harris, Virginia, S
Jake Ryan, Michigan, LB
The most interesting names in that quartet are the last two.
Ryan suffered a torn ACL during spring practice last year and was limited to just eight games in 2013, including five starts. The year before, however, he was one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten as he started all 13 games and led the Wolverines in tackles as well as tackles for loss. In 2011 as a redshirt freshman, he started 11 games.
UVa’s Harris, meanwhile, led the nation in interceptions last season with eight.
Good to see the Lott people realized they made an oops in not including Ryan and Harris on their initial watch list.