Nov. 26, 2013
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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — University of Iowa senior linebacker James Morris is one of four finalists for the 2013 Lott IMPACT Trophy. The announcement was made Tuesday by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, sponsors of the annual award.
The Lott IMPACT Award winner will be announced Sunday, Dec. 8. All finalists are invited to the 10th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy banquet at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. Morris is the first Hawkeye to be named a finalist for the award. Iowa linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge were quarterfinalists in 2005.
IMPACT is an acronym for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. The institution of the Lott IMPACT Trophy Award will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund, while the institutions of the three runners-up will receive $5,000.
Joining Morris as finalists are linebacker Anthony Barr (UCLA), linebacker Chris Borland (Wisconsin) and defensive end/linebacker Devon Kennard (USC).
Morris (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) is a senior from Solon, Iowa. He has been named a 2013 National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete and has been named to the CoSIDA/Capital One District VI Academic All-America team for a second straight year. A political science major, Morris has twice earned academic all-Big Ten honors. He was presented the Third House Scholar Award by the University of Iowa political science department last spring.
Morris has been in Iowa’s starting lineup since early in his freshman season. He has totaled 382 career tackles, ranking sixth on Iowa’s career chart. Morris was named Big Ten defensive Player of the Week for his play in Iowa’s win at Minnesota (Sept. 28) and its overtime win against Northwestern in Kinnick Stadium (Oct. 26). He had 13 tackles in Iowa’s contest at Ohio State. Through 11 games, Morris ranks second on the team with 89 tackles. He leads the team in sacks (five for 22 yards), shares the team lead interceptions (three) and is second in tackles for loss (11.5-39).
Iowa (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten Conference) has won its last two games and three of its last four. The Hawkeyes travel to Nebraska (11:06 a.m. CT, ABC) Friday, Nov. 29, to close the regular season in the third annual Hy-Vee Heroes Game. The Hawkeyes are bowl eligible for the 12th time in 13 seasons and have won at least seven games in five of the last six years.