Five Dawgs Who Could Surprise

Yesterday Georgia announced it had placed five players on Phil Steele's All-America teams and 14 on his All-SEC teams. That's a pretty impressive tally, putting the Bulldogs on par with reigning national champ Alabama.

But while having 14 players make Steele's All-SEC teams, here's my question: Could there be more by season's end?

With that said, here are five players who didn't make Steele's preseason list who I think could turn into All-SEC caliber performers by year's end.

5. Branden Smith. If things fall right, Smith could find his name on the All-SEC teams twice at year's end. He's in line to earn a significant amount of time at corner -- and possibly the starting job -- and as a five-star recruit with blazing speed, there's no reason to think he won't develop into a legit playmaker. He could also end up returning punts this season and, if he avoids the fumbling problems he had last year, could turn in a Brandon Boykin-esque performance.

4. Akeem Dent. Last year was a lost one for Dent, but he made some nice strides in 2008 and appears to be fully healthy for 2010. He's the veteran leader of the linebacking corps, and he'll be counted on heavily in Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense. If he can turn in the type of senior season he's capable of having, that would be huge news for both Dent's future prospects in the NFL and for Georgia's defense as a whole.

3. Tavarres King. Perhaps Kris Durham should be here instead. Or maybe Marlon Brown or Rantavious Wooten. But someone is going to be the beneficiary of all the attention A.J. Green gets, which means there will be plenty of opportunities for another WR to step up and turn in a strong season.

2. Abry Jones. Any kid that impresses Rodney Garner within a few weeks of arriving on campus as a true freshman has to have something going for him. Jones is strong and fast and could be a force as a pass rusher in the 3-4. How well he holds up against the run as part of the new-look D line will likely be what defines his sophomore campaign, but the potential is definitely there.

1. Cornelius Washington. Justin Houston's inclusion on Steele's first-team All-SEC list was well deserved, but Washington -- the other starting OLB -- is going to be given a chance to shine this year, too. For one, his skill set makes him a perfect fit at OLB, whereas he was a bit out of place in the more traditional DE in a 4-3. Secondly, Houston had such a strong 2009 season that he'll have to command more attention from the opposition, which could help free things up for Washington. The sophomore showed flashes last season, had an excellent G-Day performance, and I'll be shocked if he doesn't become a consistent threat as a pass rusher in 2010.

I should probably also include Caleb King on this list, but I'm guessing Phil Steele essentially flipped a coin on Georgia's running backs and went with Washaun Ealey as his rep. Odds are only one of the two will make an All-SEC team, but the chances are strong for either one. And, if by chance both prove to be All-SEC worthy by year's end, there's probably a good chance Georgia will be playing for an SEC title, too.

So… who do you think might also step up and surprise?

Georgia Spring Awards Announced

(*Note: Although the headline is already outdated, you can read more about Reuben Faloughi's story in today's Telegraph.)

From UGA release...

The University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt announced the team’s spring football awards Friday in conjunction with the annual spring G-Day football game. 
 


The awards are given annually at the conclusion of spring practice to recognize improvement, dedication and performance on the field. 
 
Richt also announced that walk-on redshirt freshman DL/LB Reuben Faloughi has been awarded a scholarship.
 


Highlighting the list of awards were the recipients of the long-standing Coffee County Hustle Award given annually to the player(s) showing the most desire during spring drills.

Recipients include Washaun Ealey, TB, Stillmore, Ga.; Demarcus Dobbs, DL/LB, Savannah, Ga.; DeAngelo Tyson, DT, Statesboro, Ga.
 


The list of 2010 awards are as follows:
 


MVP (offense): Cordy Glenn, LG, Riverdale, Ga.


True Grit Award (Offense): Shaun Chapas, FB, St. Augustine, Fla.


Coffee County Hustle Award (Offense): Washaun Ealey, TB, Stillmore, Ga.


Most Improved Player (Offense): Carlton Thomas, TB, Frostproof, Fla.


Outstanding Walk-On (Offense): Cameron Allen, FB, Canton, Ga./Kevin Lanier, FB, Woodstock, Ga.
 


MVP (Defense): Justin Houston, DL/LB, Statesboro, Ga.


True Grit Award (Defense): Akeem Dent, LB, Atlanta, Ga.


Coffee County Hustle Award (Defense): Demarcus Dobbs, DL/LB, Savannah, Ga./DeAngelo Tyson, DT, Statesboro, Ga.


Most Improved Player (Defense): Vance Cuff, CB, Moultrie, Ga./Brandon Boykin, CB, Fayetteville, Ga.


Outstanding Walk-On (Defense): Reuben Faloughi, DL/LB, Martinez, Ga.

More Honors for Bulldogs

Lots of awards stuff for the Bulldogs today…

First off, the coaches' All-SEC team is out, and Georgia landed seven players on the list.

A.J. Green, Rennie Curran and Drew Butler all made the first-team All-SEC. Blair Walsh, Geno Atkins, Ben Jones and Justin Houston were all named to the second team.

That list is pretty much the same as the AP's All-SEC honors, with Jones replacing left tackle Clint Boling as a second-team selection for Georgia.

Curran, Green and Butler also earned first-team All-SEC honors from Phil Steele. Seven other Georgia players showed up on Steele's second-, third-, and fourth-team All-SEC squads, including Boling, Houston, Walsh and safety Reshad Jones on the second team, Atkins on the third-team and senior defensive tackle Kade Weston on Steele's fourth-team All-SEC, along with kick returner Brandon Boykin and freshman tailback Washaun Ealey.

Tight end Orson Charles was also named to Steele's All-Freshman first team and Charles also earned a nod to the Freshman All-America First-Team by College Football News.

Owens, Atkins, Green on Watch Lists

From UGA release...

Georgia defensive tackles Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens and receiver A.J. Green and have been named to preseason "Watch Lists" for national awards. Atkins and Owens are both being considered for the Outland Trophy, which is given to the top interior lineman in the country, while
Green is a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation's outstanding college football receiver.

Coaches Rank UGA No. 13; Jones on Thorpe List

From UGA release...

The Georgia Bulldogs were ranked No. 13 in the initial USA Today coaches' poll release on Friday morning. In additional news, safety Reshad Jones was named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award on Thursday.

The Thorpe Award is given annually to the nation's top defensive back. The ledger of 31 leading candidates was derived through a point system based on pre-season All-American teams listed in various football publications.

Jones, a 6-2, 212-pound junior from Atlanta's Booker T. Washington High School, was a second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press last season after leading the Bulldogs with five interceptions. He started 12 of 13 games in 2008, posting 76 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, and posted three pass break-ups.

The Thorpe watch list is not final, and players who have exceptional seasons may be added. Ten semifinalists will be named on Nov. 2, and that list will be trimmed to three finalists on Nov. 23. The winner is announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show telecast in December. The official presentation of the award will take place in Oklahoma City in February.

Georgia will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Oklahoma State, which was ranked No. 11 in the pre-season poll. The Bulldogs will face four teams ranked in the top 15 of USA Today rankings ­ No. 1 Florida, No. 9 LSU, the No. 11 Cowboys and No. 15 Georgia Tech.

The Dogs finished No. 10 in the final USA Today poll following a 10-3 campaign a year ago. Georgia has now posted six top-10 finishes in the coaches' poll in the last seven years, including No. 3 in 2002, No. 6 in both 2003 and 2004, No. 10 in 2005 and No. 3 in 2007.

Media Days Notes: Florida Dominates Preseason Projections

A year ago, Georgia was the top team in the country to start the season, but the media in Hoover, Ala. for SEC Media Days still picked Florida to win the East. It probably shouldn't come as a big surprise then that the Gators were the runaway pick to repeat in 2009.

Florida was a unanimous selection by media to win the SEC East in the preseason balloting released Friday. Only one of the 64 voters selected anyone other than the Gators to win the conference. The lone dissenting vote went to Mississippi.

With the exception of receiver Percy Harvin, Florida returns nearly every key contributor from last year's national championship team, and the Gators' selection as the odds-on favorite to repeat as conference champs came as no surprise to the rest of the SEC.

"They win the big games, and you can't take anything from them," Georgia senior Jeff Owens said of the Gators. "They're a great football team, and we know that if you're going to be successful in this league, you've got to beat Florida. If you want to win a national championship or an SEC championship, you've got to beat Florida. That's the No. 1 thing."

Georgia was the consensus pick to finish second in the East, and the Bulldogs also landed five players on the All-SEC teams, as selected by the media. Receiver A.J. Green was the team's lone first-team representative, while linemen Clint Boling and Trinton Sturdivant, defensive tackle Geno Atkins and linebacker Rennie Curran were both named to the second team.

In the coach's poll, Curran was a first-team selection, but South Carolina's Eric Norwood said the demotion by the media was a reflection of the immense talent at linebacker in the conference.

"Our conference, you've got to have good linebackers," Norwood said. "It's not an option. It's not like you're in the Pac-10. This is a tough, physical conference, and you've got to be able to hit."

Alabama was selected by the media to win the SEC West, but the balloting was much closer. The Crimson Tide received 33 first-place votes, followed by Mississippi with 16 and LSU with 15.

Florida led all teams with 12 representatives on the All-SEC teams, including eight first teamers. Alabama had eight selections, while LSU and Ole Miss tied Georgia with five.

MY BAD, GUYS

The long national nightmare is over. The culprit has been found. The mystery has been solved.

The coach who left Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's name off his preseason All-SEC ballot was South Carolina's Steve Spurrier, but he promised the slight was unintentional.
Spurrier said an assistant filled out the ballot, leaving Tebow's name off and instead voting for Mississippi's Jevan Snead. Spurrier signed off on the ballot and admitted it was a mistake.

"I've called (SEC media relations director) Charles Bloom and said, 'Can I change our selection and put Tim Tebow in?'" Spurrier said. "I was able to put Tim Tebow in today, so now it's unanimous."

But even after Spurrier took full responsibility for leaving Tebow's name off his ballot and corrected the mistake, large contingent of reporters refused to let the story die. Nine more questions were posed to Spurrier involving Tebow, Florida or his voting habits, and a horde of reporters followed the former Gators coach off the stage and into the lobby to pose additional inquiries.

"I know some of you may not think that's right," Spurrier said of the voting error, hoping to end the discussion. "We made a mistake. Tim Tebow is not only the best quarterback in this league, I think he's the best in the country. … I admire and respect him. I apologize to him. He should have been on that ballot. I messed up, and I take full blame for it."

DELIGATION OF AUTHORITY

Spurrier's admission of the voting snafu put an end to the week's biggest story, but it created a second wave of inquiries from the reporters in attendance.

After admitting that an assistant filled out his ballot, Spurrier added a bit of fuel to the fire surrounding the decision this spring to keep coaches' ballots anonymous in the top-25 poll, beginning in 2010.

The coaches' poll represents one-third of the formula for determining the final BCS standings, which in turn determine which teams play for the national championship. Many coaches, like Spurrier, don't fill out their own ballots, instead delegating the job to assistants, and the South Carolina coach understands why that creates a problem.

"I've been doing the preseason ballots for 17 years, and I've never filled one out," Spurrier said. "I don't know why we vote. I guess it's because college football is still without a playoff system. I really believe most coaches do not know a whole lot about other teams, but we do vote. That's what they ask us to do, and I think we all try to do the best we can."

The sentiment isn't one LSU's Les Miles disagrees with, but he thinks delegating the voting to assistants at least makes the system work a bit better, as head coaches focus primarily on teams in their own conference.

In the end, Miles agreed the system was far from perfect, but argued that he hadn't heard a better alternative.

"I am for the playoffs, I just don't see how it works effectively," Miles said. "Everyone in the room can come up with a playoff system … but until it gets done, I'm not going to complain."

STILL WAITING

With just 10 days before Georgia begins fall practice, head coach Mark Richt is still waiting on one more recruit to arrive.

Lineman Kwame Geathers still hasn't qualified officially, and while Richt remains confident that he will, nothing is set in stone yet.

"The only guy who hasn't been in is Geathers, and we still expect him to be here," Richt said. "There's a couple more hoops that he had to jump through that hopefully he's jumping through right now."

BEAUTIFUL MIND

Norwood figures to be South Carolina's defensive leader when the Gamecocks arrive in Athens on Sept. 12, but if he knew in high school what he knows now, he might have been in the opposite locker room.

Georgia recruited Norwood heavily, he said, but issues with his grades – he had a 1.6 GPA at the end of his senior season – forced the Bulldogs to give up their pursuit.

"I had a grade problem," Norwood said. "Clearinghouse was like a 2.3, but by then it was too late. Teams have to recruit."

Auburn and Oklahoma State joined South Carolina in offering a scholarship to Norwood, but the majority of the other teams that had shown interest dropped out after learning of his grades. Once he chose South Carolina, it took three tries before he could be admitted. The process was a lesson learned for the All-SEC linebacker.

Since joining the Gamecocks, Norwood has turned his academic life around. He has made the Dean's list five times, he said, and he is scheduled to graduate in December.

The key, Norwood said, was simple. He just had to commit to his studies and believe he could do it.

"Applying myself, that's the main thing," Norwood said. "In high school, I used just walk around the halls and stuff like that. Now, we have a great academic support staff, and they let me believe that if I didn't have football, I could still succeed academically in college."

GIVING UP ALREADY?

Tebow was the dominant topic of conversation throughout media days, and Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin knows why. His fan base may hope the Volunteers will be national championship contenders this year, but Kiffin is already handing the title over to the Gators and their star quarterback.

"I think there will be a million articles written after Tim has another great year," Kiffin said. "With all the great players, they'll win another national championship. He'll win a Heisman. I'm serious about that. I really believe that."

Media All-SEC Picks Announced

Here's the full SEC release...

Defending SEC and national champion Florida Gators had a league-high 12 representatives on the 2009 All-Southeastern Conference Media Days Football Team, while defending Western Division Champion Alabama had eight total selections in a vote of media attending the 2009 SEC Football Media Days, held July 22-24 at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala.

The 64 voters also selected the Gators to play the Crimson Tide in the SEC Football Championship Game on Dec. 5 in Atlanta.

The Gators were on 63 of 64 ballots for the winner of the SEC Championship Game and were on all 64 ballots to win the Eastern Division. Ole Miss was the only other team to receive an SEC Championship vote. Filling out the Eastern Division, Georgia was predicted to finish second, South Carolina third, Tennessee fourth, Vanderbilt fifth and Kentucky sixth.

Florida is the first team to be a unanimous selection to win a division since the league started divisional play in 1992.

Alabama had 33 first place votes in the Western Division, while Ole Miss had 16 and LSU had 15. Filling out the votes in the Western Division, LSU was second, Ole Miss third, Arkansas fourth, Auburn fifth and Mississippi State sixth.

Ten of the 12 SEC Schools had a member on the first-team All-SEC squad. Each SEC school had at least one student-athlete on either the first or second team.

Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss each had five student-athletes on either the first or second team followed by Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee with three each.

Florida had the most first-team selections with eight followed by Alabama with six. Arkansas, LSU and Ole Miss had two each.

There were no unanimous selections on the All-SEC team. The leading vote-getters were Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry (62), Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (61) and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes (61).

The 2009 SEC Media Days Pre-Season All-SEC Football Team and predicted order of finish are listed below.

2009 SEC MEDIA DAYS PRE-SEASON ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM

OFFENSE

First-Team Offense
Pos. Name, Team
TE D.J. Williams, Arkansas (38)
OL Ciron Black, LSU (60)
OL Mike Johnson, Alabama (55)
OL John Jerry, Ole Miss (49)
OL Mike Pouncey, Florida (35)
C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida (39)
WR Julio Jones, Alabama (58)
WR A.J. Green, Georgia (53)
QB Tim Tebow, Florida (61)
RB Charles Scott, LSU (59)
RB Michael Smith, Arkansas (48)

Second-Team Offense
Pos. Name, Team
TE Aaron Hernandez, Florida (18)
OL Clint Boling, Georgia (12)
OL Trinton Sturdivant, Georgia (8)
OL Lee Ziemba, Auburn (6)
OL Zipp Duncan, Kentucky (4)
C Josh McNeil, Tennessee (12)
WR Brandon LaFell, LSU (9)
WR Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss (6)
QB Jevan Snead, Ole Miss (2)
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama (6)
RB Anthony Dixon, Miss. State (5)

DEFENSE

First-Team Defense
Pos. Name, Team
DL Terrence Cody, Alabama (55)
DL Greg Hardy, Ole Miss (53)
DL Carlos Dunlap, Florida (46)
DL Antonio Coleman, Auburn (32)
LB Brandon Spikes, Florida (61)
LB Rolando McClain, Alabama (50)
LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina (38)
DB Eric Berry, Tennessee (62)
DB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky (50)
DB Joe Haden, Florida (45)
DB Javier Arenas, Alabama (23)

Second-Team Defense
Pos. Name, Team
DL Geno Atkins, Georgia (21)
DL Malcolm Sheppard, Arkansas (12)
DL Jermaine Cunningham, Florida (10)
DL Charles Alexander, LSU (7)
LB Rennie Curran, Georgia (25)
LB Rico McCoy, Tennessee (4)
#LB Micah Johnson, Kentucky (3)
#LB Jamar Chaney, Miss. State (3)
DB Ahmad Black, Florida (20)
DB Chad Jones, LSU (12)
DB Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt (12)
DB Major Wright, Florida (7)

SPECIALISTS

First-Team Specialists
Pos. Name, Team
PK Leigh Tiffin, Alabama (31)
P Chas Henry, Florida (43)
RS Brandon James, Florida (35)

Second-Team Specialists
Pos. Name, Team
PK Joshua Shene, Ole Miss (26)
P Clinton Durst, Auburn (10)
RS Javier Arenas, Alabama (21)
# - Ties

By School
School 1st 2nd Total
Alabama 6 2 8
Arkansas 2 1 3
Auburn 1 2 3
Florida 8 4 12
Georgia 1 4 5
Kentucky 1 2 3
LSU 2 3 5
Ole Miss 2 3 5
Mississippi State 0 2 2
South Carolina 1 0 1
Tennessee 1 2 3
Vanderbilt 0 1 1

SEC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

64 total votes
SEC Champions – Florida (63), Ole Miss (1)

Eastern Division
1. Florida (64), 64
2. Georgia, 133
3. South Carolina, 217
4. Tennessee, 258
5. Vanderbilt, 317
6. Kentucky, 355

Western Division
1. Alabama (33), 109
2. LSU (15), 145
3. Ole Miss (16), 149
4. Arkansas, 245
5. Auburn, 309
6. Mississippi State, 387

My All-SEC Ballot

ESPN's Chris Low was kind enough to post his ballot for preseason All-SEC, and since I don't want to be accused of potentially providing extra motivation for Tim Tebow, I figured I should post mine as well. The results will be announced Friday morning.

OFFENSE

QB -- Tim Tebow (Fla)
TE -- DJ Williams (Ark)
OL -- Cyron Black (LSU)
OL -- John Jerry (Miss)
OL -- Mike Johnson (Ala)
OL -- Clint Boling (UGA)
C -- Josh McNeil (Tenn)
WR -- AJ Green (UGA)
WR -- Julio Jones (Ala)
RB -- Charles Scott (LSU)
RB -- Michael Smith (Ark)

DEFENSE

DL -- Geno Atkins (UGA)
DL -- Greg Hardy (Miss)
DL -- Carlos Dunlap (Fla)
DL -- Terrence Cody (Ala)
LB -- Rennie Curran (UGA)
LB -- Eric Norwood (SC)
LB -- Brandon Spikes (Fla)
DB -- Eric Berry (Tenn)
DB -- Trevard Lindley (UK)
DB -- Joe Haden (Fla)
DB -- Myron Lewis (Vandy)

SPECIAL TEAMS

K -- Leigh Tiffin (Ala)
P -- Chas Henry (Fla)
Ret -- Brandon James (Fla)

SEC EAST

1.) Florida
2.) Georgia
3.) Kentucky
4.) Vanderbilt
5.) South Carolina
6.) Tennessee

SEC WEST

1.) LSU
2.) Alabama
3.) Ole Miss
4.) Arkansas
5.) Auburn
6.) Mississippi State

CHAMPION: Florida

Hey, I like to be original, but I'm not stupid. Florida deserves to be the preseason pick. I'm far from convinced they'll be the last team standing at year's end, but preseason polls are all about what's on paper, and the Gators are awfully good on paper.

Beyond that, I picked Tennessee last for two reasons: They have no clue about the quarterback position, and their coach has put a target on their backs. That's a bad combination, and I think the Vols will not only be overmatched on paper, but they're also going to get every team's best shot.

I think the SEC West could realistically go to any of the top four teams, but I think if each plays to their potential, LSU has the best team. I'd be surprised if any of them finished with fewer than two SEC losses, but I think there's a good chance that the winner is every bit as good as Florida.

Among the individual players, I doubt I created much controversy with my picks. I'm perhaps being a bit locally bias with my selection of Clint Boling on the offensive line, but given all he did last year, I think it's a spot well earned. And if he can settle into one position this season and be flanked by a healthy group around him, I have no doubt he'll make my pick look like a smart one.

So, what about you guys? Think I'm an idiot? Have other ideas? Let's hear 'em.

UGA Lands 9 on Preseason SEC Teams

From SEC release...

Defending SEC and national champion Florida Gators had a league-high 16 representatives on the 2008 All-Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Football Team, while LSU had 10 total selections and defending Western Division Champion Alabama and Georgia had nine each, the league office announced on Thursday.

Florida led the way with eight players selected on the first team while Alabama had six and LSU had three.

Nine of the 12 SEC schools had a member on the first-team All-SEC squad. Each SEC school had at least two student-athletes on either the first-, second- or third-team.

Ole Miss and Tennessee had seven total members on the squads, while Kentucky had six, Vanderbilt five, South Carolina and Arkansas four each, Auburn three and Mississippi State two.

There were only three unanimous selections to this year’s All-SEC pre-season squad – LSU offensive lineman Ciron Black, Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones and Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players, thus a unanimous selection earns 11 of 12 first-team votes.

There are 10 first-team pre-season selections that were on last year’s first-team coaches All-SEC post-season team. Those include: QB Tim Tebow (Florida), RB Charles Scott (LSU), RS Brandon James (Florida), DL Terrence Cody (Alabama), LB Rolando McClain (Alabama), LB Brandon Spikes (Florida), LB Rennie Curran (Georgia), LB Eric Norwood (South Carolina), DB Eric Berry (Tennessee) and DB Trevard Lindley (Kentucky).

The All-SEC first-team squad had 15 seniors and 10 underclassmen, including eight juniors and two sophomores. The second-team had 18 seniors, seven juniors and three sophomores. The third-team had 16 seniors, eight juniors and five sophomores.

2009 SEC COACHES PRE-SEASON ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM

First-Team Offense

Pos. Name, Team
TE Richard Dickson, LSU
*OL Ciron Black, LSU
OL Mike Johnson, Alabama
OL Mike Pouncey, Florida
OL John Jerry, Ole Miss
C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
*WR Julio Jones, Alabama
WR A.J. Green, Georgia
QB Tim Tebow, Florida
RB Michael Smith, Arkansas
RB Charles Scott, LSU

Second-Team Offense

Pos. Name, Team
TE D.J. Williams, Arkansas
OL Lee Ziemba, Auburn
OL Clint Boling, Georgia
#OL Chris Scott, Tennessee
#OL Carl Johnson, Florida
#OL Cordy Glenn, Georgia
C Josh McNeil, Tennessee
WR Brandon LaFell, LSU
WR Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss
QB Jevan Snead, Ole Miss
RB Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State
RB Jeff Demps, Florida

Third-Team Offense

Pos. Name, Team
TE Aaron Hernandez, Florida
OL Jacques McClendon, Tennessee
OL Zipp Duncan, Kentucky
OL Mitch Petrus, Arkansas
OL Trinton Sturdivant, Georgia
C Jorge Gonzalez, Kentucky
WR Shay Hodge, Ole Miss
#WR Terrance Tolliver, LSU
#WR Gerald Jones, Tennessee
#QB Stephen Garcia, South Carolina
#QB Mike Hartline, Kentucky
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
RB Ben Tate, Auburn

First-Team Defense

Pos. Name, Team
DL Terrence Cody, Alabama
DL Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
DL Carlos Dunlap, Florida
LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
LB Brandon Spikes, Florida
LB Rennie Curran, Georgia
LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina
*DB Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB Javier Arenas, Alabama
DB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky
DB Joe Haden, Florida

Second-Team Defense

Pos. Name, Team
DL Charles Alexander, LSU
DL Antonio Coleman, Auburn
#DL Geno Atkins, Georgia
#DL Dan Williams, Tennessee
#DL Malcolm Sheppard, Arkansas
LB Micah Johnson, Kentucky
LB Patrick Benoist, Vanderbilt
LB Rico McCoy, Tennessee
LB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
DB Ahmad Black, Florida
DB Chad Jones, LSU
DB Prince Miller, Georgia
DB Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt

Third-Team Defense

Pos. Name, Team
DL Jeff Owens, Georgia
DL Marcus Tillman, Ole Miss
#DL Rahim Alem, LSU
#DL Corey Peters, Kentucky
LB Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
LB Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
LB Ryan Stamper, Florida
LB Perry Riley, LSU
DB Major Wright, Florida
DB Janoris Jenkins, Florida
#DB Ryan Hamilton, Vanderbilt
#DB Chris Culliver, South Carolina
#DB Reshad Jones, Georgia

First-Team Specialists

Pos. Name, Team
PK Leigh Tiffin, Alabama
P Chas Henry, Florida
RS Brandon James, Florida

Second-Team Specialists

Pos. Name, Team
PK Jonathan Phillips, Florida
P Brett Upson, Vanderbilt
RS Javier Arenas, Alabama

Third-Team Specialists

Pos. Name, Team
PK Joshua Shene, Ole Miss
P Spencer Lanning, South Carolina
RS Trindon Holliday, LSU

* - Unanimous Selections
# - Ties

Edwards Gets USOC HoF Nod

From UGA Athletics...

Former Georgia Lady Bulldog Teresa Edwards was named to the Class of 2009 for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Allstate Insurance Company, the organization's presenting sponsor, on Wednesday. This year's class is comprised of five Olympians, one Paralympian, one team, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and a special contributor.



"For me, it's the highest of highs because I've always looked at the Olympics as being the best that you could possibly get for women's basketball," Edwards said. "For me, it's the most important honor ever. To be in the company of Muhammad Ali and Wilma Rudolph, that's huge. It's kind of like, pinch me, because I still can't believe it."



In addition to Edwards, the star-studded inductee list includes the 1992 Men's Basketball Dream Team, Michael Johnson (athletics), Picabo Street (alpine skiing), Willye White (athletics), Mary T. Meagher (swimming), Sarah Will (Paralympic alpine skiing), longtime Men's Gymnastics coach Abie Grossfeld, skiing veteran Andrea Mead-Lawrence and special contributor Peter Ueberroth. Amazingly, members of this talented group of athletes, teams and coaches have been a part of a combined 21 Olympic and Paralympic Games and brought home a total of 46 medals.



"Her individual contributions to the teams she played on and those teams' successes speak clearly to the the type of competitor that Teresa Edwards has always been," Andy Landers said. "We're proud of those achievements, but I think all Georgians are even prouder of the quality and the class with which she has represented our state and our country. She has truly been a great ambassador for everyone."

Dawgs Earn High Marks

From UGA Athletics...

A total of 258 University of Georgia student-athletes earned a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for spring semester, and Georgia's 508 student-athletes posted the school's highest ever cumulative GPA with a 3.01, according to figures released by the University of Georgia Athletic Association. The 258 athletes were honored for their accomplishments by being named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Included in the 258 student-athletes were Drew Butler (football), Courtney Cripps (soccer) and Bridget Lyons (track & field) who were named Presidential Scholars for earning a 4.0 average. A total of 32 were named to the Dean's List for having an average between 3.50 and 3.99.

The women's golf team earned the highest team GPA with a 3.41, and the men's golf team had the highest GPA among men's sports with a 3.28.

The student athletes named to the Director's Honor Roll are:

*Presidential scholar (4.00)
+Dean's List (3-50-3.99)

BASEBALL: Steve Esmonde, Lilburn; Chase Hawkins, Snellville; Trevor Holder, Birmingham, Ala.; Jason Leaver, Springfield, Ohio; Kevin Ruiz, Alpharetta; Matt Cerione, Alpharetta; Justin Grimm, Bristol, Va.; Zach Laughlin, Columbus; Colby May, Guyton; Alex McRee, Gainesville; Robbie O'Bryan, Marietta; Michael Palazonne, Marietta; Miles Starr, St. Simons Island; Jonathan Taylor, Acworth; Peter Verdin, Alexandria, Va.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Matt Bucklin, Marietta; Corey Butler, Decatur, Ricky McPhee, Lawrenceville; Tyler Whatley, Auburn

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Meredith Mitchell, Midfield, Ala.; Angel Robinson, Marietta; Sarah Stoddard, Austell; Ali Watt, Duluth

EQUESTRIAN: Kelley Cowperthwait, South Hampton, NJ; Erin Dwyer, Bluemont, Va.; Alexandra Andes+, Atlanta; Anastasia Bobilev+, Annapolis, Md.; Katie Brown+, Batavia, Ill.; Alex Finder, Potomac, Md.; Marianne Grebel+, Leesburg; Amanda Hanafi, Atlanta; Sara Hemingway, Atlanta; Haylie Jayne, Elgin, Ill.; Kate Johnson, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Jordan Kirkpatrick, Lexington, S.C.; Amy Klebesadel, Agoura Hills, Calif.; Alexa Lieppe+, Atlanta; Emma Lipman, Bedford, N.Y.; Lauren Love, College Station, Texas; Amelia Rogers, Burlington, Vt.; Allie Sharp, Pittsgrove, N.J.; Caitlain Tenewitz, Cairo; Daisy Whelan, Tybee Island; Meghan Adams, Canton; Kelsey Berry, Alpharetta; Krissan Blanchard, Stockbridge; Hannah Dyer, Lawrenceville; Ali Eidson, Tuscola, Texas; Sarah Gravely, Palmetto, Fla.; Katie Hagerty, Wakefield, R.I.; Madeleine Howe, Washington D.C.; Allie Hush, Marietta; Kacy Jenkins, Potomac Falls, Va.; Kaitlin Keane, Alpharetta; Lauren Kulwicki, Hudson, Ohio; Shannon Larsen, Alpharetta; Lauren Moore, Powell, Ohio; Michelle Morris, La Canada, Calif.; Olivia Poff, Cincinnati, Ohio; Nina Pola, Ridgefield, Conn.; Alicia Shrum, Alpharetta; Kate Stewart, Dawson; Kelly Truesdell, Brights Grove, Ontario

FOOTBALL: Drew Butler*, Duluth; Kris Durham, Calhoun; Chad Klar, Hamilton; Josh Bagby+, Canton; Brian Brewer, Lilburn; Shaun Chapas, St. Augustine, Fla.; Joe Cox, Charlotte, N.C.; Jonathon deLaureal, New Orleans, La.; Trent Dittmer, Cartersville; Ty Frix, Calhoun; A.J. Harmon, Louisville; Dontavius Jackson, Franklin; Kevin Lanier, Woodstock; Aaron Murray, Tampa, Fla.; Craig Sager+, Marietta; Jeremy Sulek, Dacula; Wesley Van Dky, Dallas, Texas; Quintin Banks, Warner Robins; Taylor Bradberry, Winder; Ricardo Crawford, Fair Bluff, N.C.; Matt DeGenova, Kenner, La.; Cordy Glenn, Riverdale; Logan Gray, Columbia, Mo.; Andrew Gully, Vienna, Va.; Ben Harden, Perry; Ben Harbin, Dalton; Will James, Montgomery, Ala.; Andrew Johnson, Athens; Ben Jones, Centreville, Ala.; Michael Lanier, Woodstock; Dallas Lee, Buford; Ricky Lowe, Duluth; Zach Mettenberger, Watkinsville; Michael Moore, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Fred Munzenmaier, Norcross; Casey Nickels, Tignall; Bacarri Rambo, Donalsonville; Derek Rich, Gainesville; Christian Robinson, Norcross; Joshua Sailors, Athens; Richard Samuel, Cartersville; Nick Sorel, Norcross; Jordan Stowe, Lilburn; Carlton Thomas, Frostproof, Fla.; Trenton Turner, Peachtree City; Jason Veal, Lilburn; Aron White, Columbia, Mo.

MEN'S GOLF: Michael Green, Augusta; Rob Bennett, Augusta; Harris English+, Thomasville; Brian Harman, Savannah; Russell Henley, Macon; Adam Mitchell, Chattanooga, Tenn.; T.J. Mitchell, Albany; Hudson Swafford, Tallahassee, Fla.

WOMEN'S GOLF: Melissa Brody, Atlanta; Carolina Andrade-Barry+, Cadiz, Spain; Tess Fordham, Metter; Leigh Crosby, Athens; Mallory Hetzel, Summerville, S.C.

GYMNASTICS: Courtney Kupets, Athens; Marcia Newby, Virginia Beach, Va.; Grace Taylor, Aiken, S.C.; Paige Burns, St. Cloud, Fla.; Kat Ding, Sparks, Nev.; Lauren Johnson, Cartersville; Gina Nuccio, Naperville, Ill.; Lauren Sessler, Snellville; Abby Stack, Matthews, N.C.; Hilary Mauro, Boston, Mass.

SOCCER: Courtney Cripps*, Acworth; Leslie McConnell, Richmond Hill; Lindsay Stein, Littleton, Colo.; Jamie Bouck, Alpharetta; Jenna Buckley+, Atlanta; Caroline Burlingame+, New Orleans, La.; Marah Falle, Lilburn; Kristin Garman, Nashville, Tenn.; Meghan Gilmore+, Asheville, N.C.; Mary Ricker+, Roswell; Caroline Simpson, Atlanta; Megan Tomlinson, Atlanta; Ashley Baker, Lilburn; Kelli Corless, Acworth; Traci Dreesen, Lakewood, Colo; Natalie Farley, Carollton; Lauren Glancy, Alpharetta; Mariah Krase, Spring, Texas; Ashley Miller, Lake Mary, Fla.; Carrie Patterson, Atlanta; Olivia West, Westerville, Ohio

SOFTBALL: Christina Reed, Winder; Alisa Goler, Frankfort, Ill.; Whitney Owens, Pendleton, Ind.; Kristin Schnake, Richview, Ill.; Brianna Hesson, Sugarville; Brittany Hubbard, Victorville, Calif.; Sarah McCloud, Celina, Texas; Victoria Moody, Woodstock; Ashley Pauly, Kennesaw; Kristyn Sandberg, Island Park, N.Y.; Taylor Schlopy, West Hills, Calif.

MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING: Kit French, Mainville, Ohio; Hunter Lainhart+, Jupiter, Fla.; Michael Larmoyeux+, Jacksonville, Fla.; Adam Parker, Maryville, Tenn.; Chris Thompson, Kennesaw; Neil Versfield, Umhlanga, South Africa; Michael Arnold, Marietta; Tim Barrett, Evans; Tom Beeri, Israel; Mark Dylla, Littleton, Colo.; Kevin Frankenfeld, Austin, Texas; Shane Hall, Cumming; Sean McDevitt, Austin, Texas; Todd McGraw, Vinton, Va.; Chris Spooner, Jamestown, N.C.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING: Lisa Caprioglio, Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Kelsey Ditto, Austin, Texas; Erica Malagon, Athens; Anne-Marie Botek, Elicott City, Md.; Jessica Cole, St. Louis, Mo.; Abbie Fish+, Louisville, Ky.; Michelle McKeehan, Greenwood, Ind.; Hannah Moore, Moultrie; Aleksandra Putra, Givers, France; Kelsey Scott+, Duluth; Wendy Trott+, Capetown, South Africa; Landon Watters, Rome; Annie Broome, Knoxville, Tenn.; Lauren Cartwright, Fayetteville; Lauren English, Lincoln Park, N.J.; Kelly McNichols, Naperville, Ill.; Mhyria Miller, Big Pine Key, Fla.; Emily Montesinos, Riverdale; Chelsea Nauta, Tampa, Fla.; Allison Schmitt, Canton, Mich.

MEN'S TENNIS: Jamie Hunt, San Antonio, Texas

WOMEN'S TENNIS: Lara Fakhoury, Tampa Bay, Fla.; Naoko Ueshima, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan

MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD: John Egan, Atlanta; Ross Ridgewell, Mullumbimby, Australia; Bejan Abtahi, Nashville, Tenn.; Baron Brown, Stone Mountain; Justin Gaymon, Stewartsville, N.J.; Jamaal Parker, Macon; David Schiedt, Marietta; Caleb Vogt, Winter Park, Fla.; Travis Voyles +, Douglasville; Anthony Agbaere, Atlanta; Daniel Averso, Lilburn; Kevin Dickson, Tulatin, Ore.; J.P. Hackney, Marietta; Zach Hunter, Marietta; Ace Levy, Toronto, Canada; Jesse Marino, Lawrenceville; Brian Moore, Willow Grove, Pa.; Brian Potts, Powder Springs; Michael Proctor, Jonesboro; Nate Rolfe, Kenmore, Wash.; Dustin Tetley, Alpharetta; Kris Ward, Lawrenceville

WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD: Bridget Lyons*, Evans; Sarah Madebach, Augusta; Tierra Bagby+, Portsmouth, Va.; Hadley Ferguson, Fernandina Beach, Fla.; Kylie Foley+, Acworth; Rebecca Gordon+, Roswell; Shalondan Hollingshed, Riverdale; Stefanie Hush, Marietta; Kristie Krueger, Argyle, Texas; Ilana McQuinn, Charlestown, S.C.; Annalise Peters, Decatur; Natalie Picchetti, Alpharetta; Emily Sanders, Woodstock; Jill Skinner, Brentwood, Tenn.; Whitney Williams, College Park; Jennifer Barbi, Suwanee; Odeika Bent, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Johnnie Borries, Vancleave, Miss.; Lindsay Farr, Acworth; Kim House, Alpharetta; Emily Houston, Jensen Beach, Fla.; Josipa Jelicic, Zagreb, Croatia, Abbie Robinson, Douglasville; Keisha Spates, Valdosta; Julianne Toto, Red Bank, N.J.; Morgan VanGorder, Gainesville; Kiah Vernon, Atlanta

VOLLEYBALL: Kathleen Gates+, Wilmington, N.C.; Lindsay Gehan+, Dallas, Texas; Simone May, Guntersville, Ala.; Anjelica Partridge, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Maria Taylor, Alpharetta; Ann Dylla, Littleton, Colo.

Poythress Named All-American

From UGA Athletics...

Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress has been named to the Louisville Slugger TPX All-America Second Team, it was announced by Collegiate Baseball.

Poythress finished the season with a .376 average, 25 home runs and a single season school record 86 RBI. He became the first player in Georgia history to have two 70-RBI seasons and is the second player in program history to have two three-home run games after launching three homers in the Bulldogs 24-8 win over Ohio State in the Tallahassee Regional.

The Grovetown, Ga., native is second on Georgia's career RBI list with 185 and fifth on the career home runs list with 43. He helped guide the Bulldogs to a 38-24 record in 2009 and the program's first in-season No.1 ranking.

Poythress was named first team All-SEC and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. He was also named to the SEC's All-Defensive Team.

Poythress is the 18th All-American in Georgia baseball history.

UGA Softball Has Two All-Americans

From UGA Athletics...

University of Georgia sophomores Alisa Goler and Taylor Schlopy were named Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Americans according to an announcement made by the NFCA on Wednesday.

Both Goler and Schlopy were selected as First-Team members with Goler at third base and Taylor an at-large outfield selection. The sophomore duo become the seventh and eighth players in school history to be recognized as All-Americans, and they are the first to earn Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America honors since Kellie Middleton (2nd team), Jessica Doucette (3rd team) and Megan McAllister (3rd team) did so in 2006. The only two Bulldogs to previously earn NFCA All-America First Team honors were Kim Wendland (2004 & 2005) and Nicole Barber (2004).

Four Dawgs Make All-SEC

From UGA Athletics...

Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress along with senior Bryce Massanari, freshman Colby May and senior pitcher Trevor Holder earned 2009 All-SEC honors as voted on by the league coaches, it was announced Tuesday.

Here's the complete team:

FIRST TEAM
1B - Rich Poythress, Georgia
2B - Ross Wilson, Alabama; Josh Adams, Florida
3B - Jake Smith, Alabama
SS - Josh Rutledge, Alabama; Brian Harris, Vanderbilt
C - Blake Forsythe, Tennessee
OF - *Kent Matthes, Alabama
OF - Avery Barnes, Florida
OF - Jordan Henry, Ole Miss
DH - Blake Dean, LSU
P - *Louis Coleman, LSU
P - Austin Hyatt, Alabama
RP - Matty Ott, LSU

SECOND TEAM
1B - Nick Ebert, South Carolina
2B - Chris Bisson, Kentucky
3B - Joseph Sanders, Auburn
SS - Chris Wade, Kentucky; Bobby Haney, South Carolina
C - Justin Dalles, South Carolina
OF - Steven Liddle, Vanderbilt
OF - DeAngelo Mack, South Carolina
OF - Ryan Schimpf, LSU
DH - Bryce Massanari, Georgia
P - Scott Bittle, Ole Miss
P - Anthony Ranaudo, LSU; Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss
RP - Billy Bullock, Florida

ALL FRESHMAN TEAM
1B - *Preston Tucker, Florida
2B - Riley Reynolds, Vanderbilt
3B - Colby May, Georgia
SS - Zach Osborne, Tennessee
OF - Taylor Dugas, Alabama
OF - Mikie Mahtook, LSU
OF - Jackie Bradley, Jr., South Carolina
DH - Aaron Westlake, Vanderbilt
P - Nick Routt, Mississippi State
P - Nolan Belcher, South Carolina
RP - *Matty Ott, LSU

ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM
P - Trevor Holder, Georgia
1B - Rich Poythress, Georgia
2B - Ross Wilson, Alabama
SS - Bobby Haney, SC; Brian Harris, Vanderbilt
3B - Jake Smith, Alabama
C - Micah Gibbs, LSU
OF - Matt den Dekker, Florida
OF - Whit Merrifield, South Carolina
OF - Trent Mummey, Auburn

Poythress Named Howser Semifinalist

From UGA Athletics...

Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress is among 16 semifinalists for the 2009 Dick Howser Trophy, it was announced Thursday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

The Dick Howser Trophy is given annually to the top player in college baseball by the NCBWA in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the College Baseball Foundation. Criteria for consideration for the Dick Howser Trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by the former Florida State All-America shortstop.

Poythress leads Georgia (35-17, 15-12 SEC) with a .387 average, 21 home runs and 75 RBI this season. He is ranked in the top two in the SEC in eight statistical categories including first in hits and second in RBI, home runs, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, total bases and runs. The Grovetown, Ga., native is just two RBI shy of tying Gordon Beckham's single season school record 77 RBI, and he is the first player in Georgia history to record two 70-RBI seasons.

Curran Nets Another Honor

Courtesy UGA Athletics...

University of Georgia junior linebacker Rennie Curran will be honored as the Collegiate Athlete of the Year at the AAG Foundation gala in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Curran joins Alonzo Mourning (Athlete of the Year), Hank and Billye Aaron (Lifetime Achievement) and Tessah Holt (High School Athlete of the Year) as the other recipients on Saturday night. The black tie charity gala is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at The Westin Buckhead.

AAG Foundation has a slogan of “unifying athletes for the betterment of our communities.” Curran will be honored at the event for his service and dedication to the community as well as for his athletic success. Proceeds from the charity will benefit AAG Foundation’s Digital Connector & Reads Programs, as well as a donation to Grady Hospital.

A finalist for the Butkus Award, Curran was named to the 2008 All-Southeastern Conference team after recording a team-high 115 tackles, including an SEC-high 63 solo stops. Curran also tied for the team lead with three sacks and forced two fumbles for the 10-3 Bulldogs last season.

Georgia Announces Spring Awards

From UGA Athletics...

The University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt announced its spring football awards Friday in conjunction with the annual spring G-Day football game.

The awards are given annually at the conclusion of spring practice to recognize improvement, dedication and performance on the field.

Highlighting the list of awards were the recipients of the long-standing Coffee County Hustle Award given annually to the player(s) showing the most desire during spring drills. Recipients include Joe Cox, QB, Charlotte, N.C.; Michael Moore, WR, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Nick Williams, LB, Bainbridge; Demarcus Dobbs, DE, Savannah; and Bryan Evans, DB, Jacksonville, Fla.

The list of 2009 awards are as follows:

Best All-Around Offensive Player: Clint Boling, OT, Alpharetta

True Grit Award: Ben Jones, C, Centreville, Ala.

Most Improved Offensive Lineman: Casey Nickels, OT, Tignall

Most Improved Player: Marquise Brown, WR, Lanham, Md.

Most Improved Running Back: Carlton Thomas, RB, Frostproof, Fla.

Biggest Surprise of Spring (Offense): Logan Gray, QB, Columbia, Mo.

Outstanding Walk On (Offense): Casey Nickels, OT, Tignall

Most Consistent Running Back: Shaun Chapas, RB, St. Augustine, Fla.

Most Improved Defensive Tackle: DeAngelo Tyson, DL, Statesboro

Most Improved Defensive End: Justin Houston, DE, Statesboro

Most Improved Linebacker: Christian Robinson, LB, Norcross

Most Improved Defensive Back: Brandon Boykin, DB, Fayetteville

Outstanding Walk On (Defense): Brandon Wheeling, DL, Dallas

Coffee County Hustle Award: Joe Cox, QB, Charlotte, N.C.; Michael Moore, WR, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Nick Williams, LB, Bainbridge; Demarcus Dobbs, DE, Savannah; Bryan Evans, DB, Jacksonville, Fla.

Owens, Curran on Lott Watch List

From UGA Athletics...

University of Georgia junior linebacker Rennie Curran and senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens have been named to the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List, it was announced Tuesday by Ronnie Lott at a luncheon in Newport Beach, California.

Curran, a 228-pound All-SEC linebacker from Snellville, Ga., finished second in the SEC with a team-best 115 tackles last year. Owens, a 300-pound tackle from Sunrise, Fla., went down with a knee injury in the 2008 season opener and missed the remainder of the year. He was on the Lott Trophy Watch List a year ago. Owens is one of 14 repeat nominees.

The Watch List features 42 of the nation's top defensive players who have had the biggest IMPACT on their teams on and off the field. IMPACT is an acronym: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.


Thirty-eight different schools are represented on the Watch List. Georgia, Alabama, BYU and UCLA each have two players nominated. 


Named after the Hall of Famer Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, The Lott Trophy is the only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. 


Former Georgia All-American David Pollack won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. The other winners include DeMeco Ryans of Alabama (2005), Daymeion Hughes of Cal (2006), Glenn Dorsey of LSU (2007) and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State (2008).

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors. In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated nearly $650,000 to various charities, including the four universities.

The 2009 winner will be announced on December 13th. For further information on The Lott Trophy, please visit www.Lotttrophy.com.