Tommy Eichenberg is now a semifinalist for three different national awards.
After being named last week as a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Butkus awards, which honor college football’s best defensive player and college football’s best linebacker, Eichenberg was named Wednesday as one of nine semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Just announced: @OhioStateFB's @tommyike41 has been named a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. The award recognizes both athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. Tommy is also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. pic.twitter.com/zxo6lsd398
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 10, 2022
Eichenberg is up for all of those awards because he has been one of the best linebackers in college football this year, recording 85 total tackles with eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown in Ohio State’s first nine games. He’s graded by Pro Football Focus as the second-best linebacker in the Power 5 this year (behind Iowa’s Jack Campbell) and has led the way for a defense that ranks sixth in the nation in yards allowed per game (271.8) and eighth in points allowed per game (15.8).
“He's tough. He's athletic. He's a leader. He's reliable, he's durable, all the above, and he's been really productive,” Ryan Day said Thursday of Eichenberg. “Boy, he’s playing at a high level, and he's the leader of our defense.”
The other semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy are Alabama linebacker Will Anderson, Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Alabama safety Jordan Battle and Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson and USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu.
The winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy will be announced on Dec. 11. Finalists for the award will be invited to attend an award banquet in Newport Beach, California.
