Ohio State has two defenders on the preseason watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Fifth-year senior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and junior defensive end JT Tuimoloau are both among the 42 candidates for the award, which honors college football’s defensive player who makes the biggest IMPACT for his team, with IMPACT standing for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The @TheLottTrophy has announced 42 candidates for the 2023 Lott IMPACT Award and two @OhioStateFB Buckeyes are on the list: 2022 Lott finalist @tommyike41 and @JT_Tuimoloau. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. pic.twitter.com/bGorSVhpp9

— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) May 5, 2023

Eichenberg was already a finalist for the Lott Trophy last year, when he recorded 120 total tackles with 12 tackles for loss amid emerging as one of the nation’s best linebackers. Tuimoloau is expected to be one of college football’s best defensive ends this year after tallying 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and a touchdown in 2022.

Ohio State is one of seven schools with multiple players on the Lott Trophy watch list along with USC (Calen Bullock and Mason Cobb), Penn State (Abdul Carter and Kalen King), Michigan (Junior Colson and Will Johnson), TCU (Johnny Hodges and Josh Newton), Alabama (Kool-Aid McKinstry and Malachi Moore), LSU (Harold Perkins Jr. and Maason Smith).