The Lott Trophy was established by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to honor college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. It gives equal weight to personal character and athletic performance and was named in honor of Ronnie Lott, a four-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer.
Tillman was a former college and NFL standout who volunteered for the military and was killed in Afghanistan.
Herzlich, who has missed the entire 2009 season while undergoing treatment for Ewing’s sarcoma, has raised money for cancer research while serving as a coach and an inspiration for his Eagles teammates.
“Mark Herzlich represents all that is good in today’s student-athlete and epitomizes what we look for in Lott Trophy candidates,” said John Hamilton, chairman of the board of the IMPACT Foundation. “His perseverance, attitude and good works are an inspiration to all of us who love college football.”
Herzlich was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 after leading BC to a second-straight berth in the ACC championship game. He was named a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy in 2008.
