Morris Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

May 17, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior linebacker James Morris has been named to the 2013 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. 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.

Those selected to the list represent players who have made the biggest IMPACT on their teams both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Voting for the award is held throughout the season by a National Voter Panel of former college coaches and players, select members of the media, past winners of the award and the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the sponsors of the award.

The 10th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy Black-Tie Awards Banquet will be Dec. 8 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

Morris, a native of Solon, Iowa, has earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition the past two years and was named to the CoSIDA/Capital One District VI Academic All-America team last fall.

Morris has been a starting linebacker for the Hawkeyes since his true freshman season in 2010. Last season he ranked third in the Big Ten and 31st in the nation in tackles per game (9.4). He ranks 16th in career tackles (293). He was named a Permanent Team Captain in 2012 while earning the Hayden Fry “Extra Heartbeat” Award and the Players Choice Award on defense. Morris earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore and junior after being named Freshman All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com as a freshman.

Morris and the Hawkeyes open the 2013 season August 31, facing Northern Illinois in Kinnick Stadium.