Joshua Perry's been a team leader for the past two seasons at Ohio State. He's a model citizen on and off the field for the Buckeyes.
Tuesday, Perry's contributions to the program between the lines and outside them were recognized by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation. The organization named Perry one of four finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, given to a college football player who "represents the qualities embodied by Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott – Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity."
Along with Perry, the other three finalists are Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib, Duke safety Jeremy Cash and Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich.
Perry is a team captain and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the 2015 season after posting 98 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and three pass break ups to help the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record. The senior from Galena, Ohio, is the second Buckeye to be a finalist for the award, joining James Laurinaitis, who won it in 2008.
"He’s one of my favorite guys. He’s a guy that just does everything right," Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said of Perry, according to the Lott IMPACT Trophy website. "He’s a guy I’d hire in a minute if he wants to coach. He’s a guy that just represents the Perry family and Ohio State the right way. There’s a high correlation between that and playing very well on the field and he’s doing it."
Added Ohio State Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith: "If he did not play professionally, I would create a position for him and train him to be an athletic administrator. If I had to choose three athletes over my 30 years as an athletic director who would be most special, Joshua would be one of the three."
The winner of the award is set be announced at The Lott IMPACT Trophy Award Banquet Dec. 13 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.
PAST AWARD WINNERS
2004: David Pollack, Georgia
2005: DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006: Dante Hughes, California
2007: Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009: Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010: J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
2011: Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2012: Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2013: Anthony Barr, UCLA
2014: Eric Kendricks, UCLA
