The national recognition continues to shower over Ohio State's players this season.
On Tuesday, Tommy Eichenberg was named as a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Jesse Mirco was nominated as a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
Eichenberg is one of four players selected as a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded to a defensive player who displays athletic excellence and exceptional character. His nomination came hours after he was left off the list of finalists for the Butkus Award in favor of Iowa's Jack Campbell, Georgia's Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Washington State's Daiyan Henley, Cincinnatti's Ivan Pace and Arkansas' Drew Sanders.
Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama), Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State), Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State) and Tuli Tuipulotu (USC) as finalists for the 2022 Lott IMPACT Trophy. pic.twitter.com/hXYL6hNnrR
— Lott IMPACT Trophy (@TheLottTrophy) November 22, 2022
This season, Eichenberg paces Ohio State with 105 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He also has contributed 2.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and a defensive touchdown.
Other semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy include Alabama's Will Anderson, Kansas State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah and USC's Tuli Tuipolotu. Eichenberg will look to become the first Buckeye to win the award since James Laurinaitis took home the prize in 2008.
Meanwhile, Mirco is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to the best punter in college football.
.@Jesse_Mirco29 @RayGuyAward seifinalist #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bTPG5PBRIT
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 22, 2022
The Fremantle, Australia, native has punted 39 times this season for an average of 45.5 yards, with 19 punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Additionally, Mirco has booted 11 punts more than 50 yards this season, including a season-long of 77 yards in Ohio State's 21-7 win over Northwestern on Nov. 5.
Mirco is featured on a list with nine other players, including Auburn's Oscar Chapman, Cincinnati's Mason Fletcher, Kansas State's Ty Zentner, Miami's Lou Hedley, Michigan State's Bryce Baringer, Notre Dame's Jon Sot, Oklahoma's Michael Turk, Rutgers' Adam Koreas and South Carolina's Kai Kroeger.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy will be presented at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California, on Dec. 11, while the Ray Guy Award's three finalists will be named on Nov. 29, with the winner revealed at the ESPN College Football Awards show on Dec. 8.
Eichenberg and Mirco are among a long list of Buckeyes who are either finalists or semifinalists for national awards this season:
- QB C.J. Stroud: Maxwell Award (semifinalist), Walter Camp Player of the Year (semifinalist), Davey O’Brien Award (semifinalist), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (finalist)
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: Maxwell Award (semifinalist), Walter Camp Player of the Year (semifinalist). Biletnikoff Award (semifinalist)
- WR Emeka Egbuka: Paul Hornung Award (finalist)
- WR Kamryn Babb: Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year (semifinalist)
- TE Cade Stover: John Mackey Award (semifinalist)
- LT Paris Johnson Jr.: Outland Trophy (semifinalist)
- LB Tommy Eichenberg: Chuck Bednarik Award (semifinalist), Lott IMPACT Trophy (finalist)
- S Lathan Ransom: Jim Thorpe Award (semifinalist)
- P Jesse Mirco: Ray Guy Award (semifinalist)
- DC Jim Knowles: Broyles Award (semifinalist)
