Two Ohio State defenders were named on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, with safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles representing the Buckeyes among 42 defenders listed.
Downs was a finalist for the award in the 2024 season, but Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who was selected with the second pick in the NFL draft in April, ultimately won it.
There are 16 defensive lineman on the list, 13 linebackers and 13 defensive backs and Ohio State is one of nine schools with multiple representatives on the watch list. Texas, who the Buckeyes will match up against in Week 1, is the only team with three players on the list. with linebacker Anthony Hill, defensive end Colin Simmons and safety Michael Taaffe representing the Longhorns.
Alabama, Clemson, Minnesota, LSU, Oregon, South Carolina and USC also have multiple players on the list.
Current linebackers coach James Laurinaitis is the only Buckeye to have won the award, doing so in his senior 2008 season.
The award is named after former USC defensive back and NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and goes to “college football’s top defensive player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field.” The IMPACT acronym stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.
The winner of the award will be announced in December.
