In what will likely be a regular occurrence in the coming weeks, Virginia football players Quin Blanding and Micah Kiser received preseason recognition Monday. Both players made the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List for the second straight season.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy honors the top defensive student-athlete in the country that exhibits characteristics – Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics and Tenacity – of Ronnie Lott during his football career. There are 42 (Lott’s number) nominated players. The winner will be announced Dec. 10 in California and that player will receive $25,000 for his school’s general scholarship fund. Three runner-ups will receive $5,000 each for their schools. One athlete is also named Player of the Week each week during the season, earning $1,000 for his school.
Both Blanding and Kiser bypassed potential NFL opportunities to return to UVA for the upcoming season. Their return provides a lot of experience and production for the defense. Since the ACC began tracking tackle leaders in 1990, No defensive duo from the same team has finished No. 1 and No. 2 in the league in tackles in back-to-back years (since tracking started in 1990) like the Wahoo tandem accomplished.
Blanding started 12 games last season and averaged 10.0 tackles per game to finish No. 9 nationally (No. 2 in the ACC). He picked up All-American recognition from the Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. Blanding has made 358 career tackles, the most ever by a defense back at Virginia and ninth all-time overall.
Kiser started 12 games as well and led the ACC in tackles or the second straight season. He averaged 11.2 tackles per game (No. 4 nationally) en route to All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America. Kiser has piled up 251 tackles the past two seasons (266 for his career).
The Cavaliers open the season Sept. 2 against William & Mary.
