Akeem Ayers named Lott Impact Player of the Week
From UCLA:
NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. - UCLA's Akeem Ayers has been named the Lott
IMPACT Player of the Week.
Ayers, a 6-4, 252-pound redshirt junior from Los Angeles (Verbum Dei High), had an interception (returned for 13 yards), a forced fumble, a sack and another tackle for a loss in the Bruins' big upset win over Texas, 34-12.
Ayers has two interceptions this season and six for his career. He is third on the Bruins in tackles with 29 and leads the team with tackles for loss with 5 ½.
A history major at UCLA, Ayers has been on the Directors Honor Roll.
He plays both linebacker and defensive end in the Bruins' defensive scheme: "Playing both end and linebacker puts me more in a position where I can make plays all over the field," he says.
UCLA will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Ayers' achievement.
Other players nominated for the IMPACT Player of the Week were Greg Jones of Michigan State, Jeremy Beal of Oklahoma, Tejay Johnson of TCU and Mark Barron of Alabama.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its seventh year, the Lott is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Past winners of The Lott IMPACT Trophy:
2004 - David Pollack, Georgia
2005 - DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 - Dante Hughes, California
2007 - Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 - Jerry Hughes, TCU
In six years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $750,000 to various charities, including $25,000 to each of the winners' universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the IMPACT Foundation, the IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former college head coaches.
Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott is given to the 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, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and the Legends Coaches which is a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. The seventh annual Lott IMPACT Trophy dinner will be held December 12th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottTrophy.com
2010 Lott IMPACT Players of the Week
1 - Patrick Peterson, LSU
Week 2 - Mike Mohamed, Cal
Week 3 - Ross Homan, Ohio State
Week 4 - Akeem Ayers, UCLA
i hope everybody appreciates ayers' performance this year because he won't be in a ucla uniform next year.
Thanks, Anon. You're a real ray of sunshine!
Congratulations, Akeem! Well deserved. Get well.
i agree with anon.. hes just ready for the nfl.
I have a feeling he's staying as long as we have a winning season i.e. 7 plus. Anything less than that and he's gone.
nfl lockout anyone?
It's an honor to be mentioned in the same breath as Trojan great Ronnie Lott.
Ayers definitely deserves it.
No kidding, j_doe. That's a real constructive comment. Sure, he's likely gone, but let's enjoy it. He's one of the most athletic LB's I've ever seen at UCLA.
Here's to hoping the NFL lockout keeps him around next year
I'm just glad we're getting the $1,000. We need the money.