April 18, 2005

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Northwestern defensive back Jeff Backes and linebacker Tim McGarigle are two of 42 players who have been named to the 2005 Lott Trophy Watch List, announced Monday.

Backes is a 2004 ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American and McGarigle a 2004 first-team All-Big Ten selection.

Backes totaled 45 tackles, nine pass deflections and an interception last year. He also starred as a special teams returner, scoring touchdowns on both a kickoff (97 yards) and punt (73 yards) return in Big Ten play.

McGarigle led the nation in solo tackles last year and is college football's top returning tackler. He averaged 12.6 tackles per game. McGarigle earned national player of the week honors for his 21-tackle effort vs. Purdue.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Trophy goes to the college defensive player of the year who has the biggest IMPACT both on and off the field.

Georgia's David Pollack won the inaugural award last year. Sponsored by the IMPACT Foundation of The Pacific Club, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics that Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. It is the only college award that is based on both performance and character.

The inaugural banquet featured an array of football luminaries, including Lott, Marcus Allen, Bill Walsh, John Robinson and Pat Haden. Pollack and the other two finalists -- Derrick Johnson of Texas and Jim Leonhard of Wisconsin -- were also in attendance.

THE LOTT TROPHY FACT SHEET
AWARD: The Lott Trophy
NAMED AFTER: Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott
CRITERIA: The award is given to the college defensive player who exhibits the same characteristics that Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
SPONSOR: The IMPACT Foundation of the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
VOTERS: A panel of national voters, including collegiate offensive and defensive coordinators, former NFL coaches and players, media and the Board of Directors of The IMPACT Foundation.
YEARS IN EXISTENCE: This is the second year for The Lott Trophy.
2004 WINNER: David Pollack of Georgia (the other two finalists were Derrick Johnson of Texas and Jim Leonhard of Wisconsin)
BANQUET: The second annual Lott Trophy Banquet will be Dec. 11, 2005 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.
DONATIONS: The IMPACT Foundation of the Pacific Club made three donations last year: $25,000 to the general scholarship fund at the University of Georgia, $25,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of America; and $25,000 to the Pat Tillman Foundation.

2005 Lott Trophy Watch List
Jahmile Addae, S, West Virginia
Jason Allen, DB, Tennessee
Jeff Backes, DB, Northwestern
Darnell Bing, S, USC
H.B. Blades, LB, Pittsburgh
Trent Bray, LB, Oregon State
Ahmad Brooks, LB, Virginia
Darrell Brooks, S, Arizona
Daniel Bullocks, S, Nebraska
Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa
Will Derting, LB, Washington State
Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa
Charles Gordon, DB, Kansas
Spencer Havner, LB, UCLA
A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State
Eric Henderson, DE, Georgia Tech
Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa
Brandon Hoyte, LB, Notre Dame
Tom Hubbard, S, Colorado
D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Maryland
Tommy Jackson, DL, Auburn
Mathias Kiwanuka, DL, Boston College
Justin London, LB, UCLA
Jesse Mahelona, DL, Tennessee
Shane MacIntyre, LB, Montana
Donnie McCleskey, S, California
Tim McGarigle, LB, Northwestern
Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia
Moses Osemwegie, LB, Vanderbilt
Nick Reid, LB, Kansas
DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama
Kevin Schimmelmann, LB, Stanford
Brennan Schmidt, DL, Virginia
Jon Sumrall, LB, Kentucky
Dhyan Tarver, S, Army
Morris Virgil, S, Illinois
Gabe Watson, DL, Michigan
Jamar Williams, LB, Arizona State
Jimmy Williams, DB, Virginia Tech
Travis Williams, LB, Auburn
Rodrique Wright, DT, Texas
Claude Wroten, DL, LSU