IMPACT Player of the Week: September 9

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NEWPORT BEACH - Cal Linebacker Zack Follett has been named the winner of The Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week presented by Wachovia.

Follett scored on a 65-yard return of a blocked field goal, had a sack and another tackle for loss in Cal’s 66-3 win over Washington State.  

Cal will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Follett’s performance.

Follett (6-1, 238, Clovis, Ca.) was selected by The Legends Football Coaches Association.  Former Washington Head Coach Don James, an LFCA member, commented on Follett’s play: “Follett’s run back of the blocked field goal came early in the second quarter with the Cougars down only 21-3 and attempting to cut the lead to 15 points.  His touchdown put the game out of reach for Washington State and allowed Cal to cruise to an easy victory.”

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its fifth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.  
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, Ca., 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 Cal was the recipient in 2006 and Glenn Dorsey of LSU in 2007.  Georgia, Alabama, Cal and LSU each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds.  In four years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $450,000 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 Advisers comprised of many retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

Other players receiving consideration from the Legends Coaches were Brit Miller of Illinois, Jan Jorgensen of BYU, Darryl Richard of Georgia Tech and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State.

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