The first award watch list of 2025 includes two Buckeyes.
While the watch lists for college football’s major awards will be unveiled in July and August, the Lott IMPACT Trophy kicked off watch list season early by releasing the 42 nominees for its award on Wednesday.
That list includes two Ohio State players: safety Caleb Downs, who was a finalist for the award last year, and linebacker Sonny Styles.
Lott Impact Watch List
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 28, 2025
@sonnystyles_ x @caleb_downs2 pic.twitter.com/6HFpQfuakZ
Ohio State is one of nine schools with multiple players on the list. Texas is the only school with three players on the list (LB Anthony Hill Jr., EDGE Colin Simmons and S Michael Taaffe). Alabama (LB Deontae Lawson and DT LT Overton), Clemson (DE TJ Parker and DT Peter Woods), Minnesota (S Koi Perich and DT Anthony Smith), LSU (LBs Harold Perkins and Whit Weeks), Oregon (S Dillon Thieneman and DE Matayo Uiagalelei), South Carolina (DB Jalon Kilgore and DE Dylan Stewart) and USC (LB Eric Gentry and S Kamari Ramsey) each join Ohio State in having two players on the list.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy, named after legendary NFL and USC defensive back Ronnie Lott, honors the defensive player who makes the biggest IMPACT – an acronym that stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity – for his team on and off the field. Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter won the award last year.
Current Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis (2008) is Ohio State’s only previous winner of the award.
Downs, one of two 2024 finalists who’s still playing college football along with Indiana defensive end Mikail Kamara, can safely be considered a preseason frontrunner for the award. The 2024 unanimous All-American is widely considered the nation’s best defensive player entering 2025 while he’s also known for his leadership, work ethic and high character off the field.
Styles is also expected to be one of Ohio State’s top leaders in 2025 and looks to become one of the nation’s best linebackers in his second year playing the position after starting his college career at safety.
