Kuony Deng Named To Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Kuony Deng was one of 42 national preseason picks for the 2021 Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list announced by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation at a luncheon Wednesday at The Pacific Club. Deng, who is slated to make a position change from inside to outside linebacker as a 2021 senior, is on the preseason watch list for the second consecutive season.

The prestigious award was founded in 2004 and is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. The honor is given annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career and is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Cal's Daymeion Hughes won the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2006 two seasons after the award debuted in 2004, while Evan Weaver was a finalist in 2019 and Mike Mohamed a quarterfinalist in 2010.

Below are notes Deng with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Kuony Deng, OLB, 6-4, 245, RSr., 6th Collegiate Season/3rd Season At Cal, Aldie, VA (Independence Community College/Virginia Military Institute/John Champe HS)
2021 Honors – Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, Third-Team Preseason All-Pac-12 (Athlon, Lindy's)
– Has played in and started all 17 games possible at Cal since the beginning of the 2019 season and posted career totals of 150 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss (-37 yards), 3.5 sacks (-14 yards), eight pass breakups, eight passes defended, six quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery
– Recorded career highs of 119 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss (-27 yards), 3.0 sacks (-12 yards), eight pass breakups, eight passes defended, five quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery while playing in and starting a career-high all 13 games as a 2019 junior
– Started all four games as a 2020 senior and led the team with 31 tackles and his lone two career forced fumbles both in the fourth quarter of a win over Oregon, while adding 2.5 tackles for loss (-10 yards) and one quarterback hurry
– Ranked third in the Pac-12 and tied for fourth nationally with his 0.50 forced fumbles per game as a 2020 senior