Ohio State senior defensive end Tyquan Lewis has been named as one of 20 quarterfinalists for this year's Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy, which was first awarded in 2004, honors college football's defensive player who makes the biggest IMPACT – an acronym standing for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity – for his team both on and off the field.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Thursday on his radio show that he puts Lewis, who has four tackles for loss (3.5 sacks) this season, in the same category as two of his favorite players he's coached: former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and former Ohio State defensive end John Simon.
"That's just three of the toughest guys I've been around," Meyer said. "The most unselfish, tough guys that would do anything for your team."
James Laurinaitis (2008) is Ohio State's only previous winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
The full list of quarterfinalists for the award is as follows:
| NAME | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| MARCUS ALLEN | S | PENN STATE |
| QUIN BLANDING | S | VIRGINIA |
| BEN BURR-KIRVEN | LB | WASHINGTON |
| JASON CABINDA | LB | PENN STATE |
| TREMAINE EDMUNDS | LB | VIRGINIA TECH |
| MINKAH FITZPATRICK | CB | ALABAMA |
| ZAIRE FRANKLIN | LB | SYRACUSE |
| DERWIN JAMES | CB | FLORIDA STATE |
| MALIK JEFFERSON | DE | TEXAS |
| JOSEY JEWELL | LB | IOWA |
| MICAH KISER | LB | VIRGINIA |
| CHRISTIAN LACOUTURE | DL | LSU |
| TYQUAN LEWIS | DE | OHIO STATE |
| COURTNEY LOVE | LB | KENTUCKY |
| HERCULES MATA'AFA | DL | WASHINGTON STATE |
| OGBONNIA OKORONKWO | LB | OKLAHOMA |
| HARRISON PHILLIPS | DL | STANFORD |
| CAMERON SMITH | LB | USC |
| DRUE TRANQUIL | S | NOTRE DAME |
| CHRISTIAN WILKINS | DL | CLEMSON |
