Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers Wins LOTT IMPACT Trophy
By Paul Bartelt IPA Sports Editor
Newport Beach, Ca. On Sunday, the University of Michigan’s all-purpose junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers was awarded the 2016 LOTT IMPACT Trophy. The award show is broadcast live on FOX Sports, and named after College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ronnie Lott who presented the trophy to Peppers. Founded in 2004, the Lott IMPACT Trophy is the only college football award that equally recognizes athletic talent and an individual’s character. The LOTT IMPACT Award represents an athletes Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. This year’s three other finalists included University of Southern California junior cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, Alabama senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and Air Force senior safety Weston Steelhammer.
Peppers was recognized twice this season as the Lott Impact Trophy player of the Week. This versatile athlete, projected as a first round NFL draft pick, returns punts and kicks, starts on defense and also played part time running back this season. Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh compared Peppers to Jim Thorpe being an offensive, defensive and special team threat. Peppers ranked third in the nation in punt returns, recorded 70 tackles, including 16 for losses’, and accounted for over 700 total yards this season.
The well deserving Peppers was raised by his mother after his father was sent to prison when he was a child. His brother Don was killed in 2010 when Peppers was 14 years old.
Previous LOTT IMPACT Trophy recipients include current NFL players J.J. Watt, Luke Kuechly, Manti Te’o, Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.
This year’s Pacific Club IMPACT Foundations Honorary Award went to former UCLA Coach Terry Donahue recognizing his development and commitment to the California Showcase, a free tryout for high school senior football players that have not received Division 1 collage athletic scholarships. In four years, the one day camp has been responsible for over $13 million being made available for scholarship aid to 497 athletes.
The Pacific Club IMPACT foundation will make as $25,000 donation to the general scholarship fund to the University of Michigan and $5,000 to each of the other three finalists Universities. The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has now donated over $1.3 million to university scholarship grants and charitable contributions.
Former Los Angeles Rams All Pro Defensive End and television personality Fred Dryer was the evenings keynote speaker.
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