TEMPE – Sun Devil graduate defensive back
Tyler Whiley has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list for the 2019 season.
Whiley's addition to the list makes it three-straight seasons that one of Arizona State's own has found his name on the watch list as former Sun Devil
Koron Crump was put on the list in 2017 and 2018.
Presented by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the trophy is presented annually to college football's defensive impact player of the year. Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Lott, the trophy is the only one of its kind in college football that equally recognizes athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Whiley was granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA after suffering a broken foot prior to the start of what would have been his senior campaign in 2018. He is one of 42 men in the NCAA, and one of seven players from the Pac-12, to make the preseason watch list.
Although he didn't touch the field in 2018, as a junior, Whiley played in each of ASU's 13 games and blocked a punt against Oregon that led to a
Brandon Ruiz field goal in a game the Devils would go on to win by two points.
The Lott IMPACT trophy is voted on by a panel of selected national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and a distinguished group of former college football head coaches.
To date, the Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to various charities across the country, including over $700,000 to universities.
The winner's school receives $25,000 for its general scholarship fund and three finalists receive $5,000 each for their schools. A Lott IMPACT Player of the Week is selected each week during the season and $1,000 is awarded to the school of the player.
The winner of the 16th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy will be announced Dec. 15 in Newport Beach, California.
