By: Paul Bartelt
IPA Sports Editor
Newport Beach, Ca. The 20th annual Lott IMPACT Awards took place Sunday evening at the Pacific Club and is named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ronnie Lott, an All -American safety from the University of Southern California. This year’s recipient is Junior Colson, a linebacker from the University of Michigan, who led the number 1 ranked Wolverines to a perfect 13-0 record this season. Colson, a native of Haiti, moved to the United States and was adopted in 2012. Colson led Michigan with 71 tackles, 26 more than the next closest player in college football and the Wolverines defense led all Division 1 football teams allowing only 10.25 points per game. Colson had his best game against Big 10 rival Ohio State recording a team high 11 tackles, seven for a loss, in Michigans 30-24 win over the Buckeyes. Michigan will face number 4 Alabama on New Years Day in the Rose Bowl with the winner advancing to the National Championship Game on January 8.
The other three Lott IMPACT finalists were Dallas Turner, a junior linebacker from Alabama who was a mid-season All American and is projected to be a first round NFL draft pick in April. Also a finalist was Laiatu Latu, a senior defensive lineman from UCLA who led the PAC 12 Conference in total quarterback sacks and tackles for losses this season. The final canidate was Jonah Elliss, a junior defensive end from Utah who finished the season with the most quarterback sacks per game of any player in college football.
Forty- two college athletes were identified last spring and put on the Lott IMPACT watch list for this season. Voters selected the top player each week during the college football season, naming one player weekly to be awarded for his play on the field.
The Lott IMPACT award is unique as players are given equal weight for personal charcter and athletic performance. Several Lott Impact alumni have gone on to excel in areas outside of football after their playing days.
This year’s special guest speaker was former San Francisco 49ers player Brent Jones who had an 11 year NFL career, won three Super Bowl championships, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and worked for CBS Television broadcasting NFL games for seven seasons.
Lott is a four-time Super Bowl Champion also playing for the 49ers who played in 10 Pro Bowl games and is a leader making an IMPACT both on and off the field.
The evenings master of ceremonies was football commentator Joel Klatt. Millions of Dollars raised by the Lott IMPACT have been awarded to colleges and universities and to other schools and charities.