Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Winn Named to Lott Trophy Watch List

Boise State defensive tackle Billy Winn received word that he is on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List this coming season.  The Lott Trophy is given annually to the top collegiate defensive player in the nation.

This alone lets Winn know what he must achieve this fall.  For the Broncos to be the kind of team that the players, coaches and fans want them to be, Winn must be a leader (if not The Leader) on a Boise State defense that will again be one of the best in the nation.  Billy has had his moments of greatness (his knifing through the Oregon offensive line to nab LaGarrette Blount for a safety is one), but the Broncos are looking for him to thoroughly dominate the opposition on every play, to be so much of a threat that opposing offensive coordinators are constantly drawing up double-teams and having to change their offense because of him.  If Winn forces that, it doesn't matter which and how many awards he receives; he will have done his job.



The Western Athletic Conference never recognized Winn as a first-team player (to each his own, I suppose.)  He has had 22 tackles for loss and 10 sacks combined in the last two seasons.  Now, Billy needs to ring up those kind of numbers in one year to rise to the next level.

There are 42 others on the Lott Impact list--IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, qualities that Ronnie Lott himself stood for.  More than 200 former stars and coaches, media members and LOTT Board members vote on the finalists, which will all be recognized at the Lott IMPACT Trophy banquet December 11 in Newport Beach, California.

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