Peppers Wins 2016 Lott IMPACT Trophy
12/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 11, 2016
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Junior all-purpose contributor and starting linebacker Jabrill Peppers of the No. 6-ranked University of Michigan football team was announced as this year's recipient for the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy on Sunday (Dec. 11). The other finalists for the award were Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen, USC cornerback Adoree Jackson and Air Force safety Weston Steelhammer.
First granted in 2004, the Lott IMPACT Trophy is presented annually to the student-athlete who exhibits the characteristics displayed by Ronnie Lott during his college and professional years. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity. Peppers received $25,000 for the University of Michigan's general scholarship fund. A National Voter Panel of more than 300 former college coaches, players and members of the media voted on the award.
This fall, Peppers has helped direct a Michigan defense that leads the nation in pass defense, tackles-for-loss and third-down conversion percentage allowed. U-M ranks second nationally in six other categories.
The East Orange, New Jersey, native is second on the team in tackles with a career-best 72 stops on the year. He leads U-M in tackles-for-loss (16), averaging 1.3 per game, and is a major reason why U-M is the only team in the nation averaging more than 9.0 TFLs per contest (9.6 average). He contributed four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. Peppers had 21 punt returns for 310 yards (14.8 avg.) and one touchdown and had 10 kickoff returns for 260 yards (26.0 avg.). He also contributed on the offensive side of the ball, rushing 27 times for 167 yards and three touchdowns while catching two passes.
Peppers has proven his versatility this season, lining up at 15 different positions for the Wolverines (five on offense, six on defense, four on special teams).
Last night, Peppers finished fifth in the 2016 Heisman Trophy balloting, the highest finish for a Wolverine since Mike Hart placed fifth in 2006. He was named a first team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. Peppers became the first player in Big Ten history to win three individual awards when he was named the conference's Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and Rodgers-White Return Specialist of the Year.
Peppers and the Wolverines will play the No. 11-ranked Florida State Seminoles in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The game will televised nationally by ESPN starting at 8 p.m.
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
