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Leman Named Lott Trophy Finalist
Illini
Linebacker Honored for Academic and Athletic Excellence
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[November 28, 2007]
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. --
Linebacker
J Leman of Illinois has been named a finalist for the fourth
annual Lott Trophy, to be presented Dec. 9. The other three
finalists are LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Ohio State
linebacker James Laurinaitis and Virginia defensive end Chris Long.
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 The Lott Trophy honors
the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, who
exemplifies integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community
and tenacity. The student-athlete is judged on both his on-field
performance and his off-field performance. The Lott Trophy is the
only sports award based on personal character and is appropriately
named after Ronnie Lott, the legendary defensive back who had Hall
of Fame careers at both the college (USC) and professional (49ers,
Raiders, Jets) levels. Previous winners were David Pollack of
Georgia (2004), DeMeco Ryans of Alabama (2005) and Daymeion Hughes
of California (2006).
Leman has already graduated and will
complete his master's degree in December. He was a unanimous all-Big
Ten choice, a midseason all-American and a finalist for the Draddy
Trophy for academic excellence. The Illini captain is a senior from
Champaign with 124 tackles, 40 more than anyone else on the team.
Illinois was the most improved team in the country, going from just
two wins in '06 to 9-3 this season
[to top of second column]
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Voting for the winner was conducted by Ernst & Young, with
ballots being sent to college offensive and defensive coordinators,
national media, The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation board of
directors, an advisory board made up of former NFL players and
coaches, along with the 17 members of the Master Coaches.
The winner will be announced Dec. 9 at a gala black-tie awards
banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. All four
finalists will be flown to Newport Beach for the banquet. The
winner's university will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship
fund, while the three runners-up will receive $5,000 each for their
schools.
The banquet, which will be televised live by Fox Sports Net, will
also feature a tribute to the late Bill Walsh, a founding board
member of the IMPACT Foundation, and the presentation of a Lifetime
IMPACT Award to Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen.
[Text from file received from
Cassie Arner, associate sports
information director,
University of Illinois]
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