April 15, 2010

South Carolina’s Cliff Matthews has been named to the 2010 Lott Trophy Watch List, it was announced today in Newport Beach by Ronnie Lott and the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.

Matthews is a 6-4, 260-pound defensive end from Cheraw, S.C. who had seven sacks and four fumble recoveries last season. He was a second-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches in 2009.

“This is a superb list of young men,” said Lott as he announced the list. “We at the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation are always pleased to see the accomplishments of such outstanding student-athletes, all of whom are worthy of consideration for the Lott Trophy.”

Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, members of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation Board of Directors, the Legends Coaches and distinguished alumni of various schools around the nation.

The winner, who will be announced at the annual black-tie gala in December, receives $25,000 for his school’s general scholarship fund. Three runnerups each receive $5,000.

The previous winners of the Lott Trophy:

2004 – David Pollack, Georgia

2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama

2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal

2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU

2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU

In six years, the IMPACT Foundation has now donated more than $750,000 to various charities.