NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – Kentucky Linebacker Josh Allen (pictured) has been named the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week.
The 6-5, 260-pound senior from Montclair, N.J., had three sacks, four tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble as the surprising Wildcats remained undefeated (5-0) with a 24-10 over South Carolina last Saturday night.Allen leads the nation in tackles for losses with 10.5 and is among the leaders in sacks with six.
“He’s really a dominant player and he’s exceptional on his feet as well. Yeah, half the time I do want to look at, wonder why in the world I’m dropping him sometimes because he’s not blockable,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said. "But he’s dang good in coverage as well. He really disrupts things.”
Allen participated in an event with the Special Olympics after practice and was a volunteer at the Indian Summer Camp for children’s cancer survivors (2015).
Kentucky will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of his performance.
The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation sponsors the Lott IMPACT Trophy and has donated more than $1.5 million to universities and charities throughout the country. The annual award recognizes the personal character of the winning defensive player as well as his athletic excellence.
Other nominees for the Lott IMPACT Trophy in Week Five:
--Zach Allen, DE, Boston College: Recorded 4 tackles for losses, 2 sacks, a quarterback hurry and 8 total tackles, which led the team, in a 45-35 win over Temple.
--Te’von Coney, LB, Notre Dame: Led the Irish with 7 tackles (1/2 tackle for loss) and was credited with defending one pass in win over Stanford, 38-17.
--Deshaun Davis, LB, Auburn: Had a team high 10 tackles, 2 tackles for losses in win over Southern Mississippi, 24-13.
--Caleb Kelly, LB, Oklahoma: Had 2 sacks and 5 total tackles in win over Baylor, 66-33.
--Colin Schooler, LB, Arizona: Had a team high 13 tackles and recovered a fumble in 24-20 loss to USC.
--Ty Summers, LB, TCU: Had 9 tackles in win over Iowa State, 17-14.
2018 Lott IMPACT Trophy Players of the Week:
Week One – Ed Oliver, Houston
Week Two – Joe Dineen Jr., Kansas
Week Three – Deshaun Davis, Auburn
Week Four – Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
ALLEN, ASAFO-ADJEI CAPTURES SEC HONORS
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei have been named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Offensive Lineman of the Week, respectively, it was announced Monday, Oct. 1 by the league. It is Allen’s third honor of the season and second in as many weeks.
The No. 13 Wildcats produced another dominant victory last Saturday night, besting South Carolina, 24-10, in front of the third-largest crowd at Kroger Field. UK now is 5-0 for the first time since 2007 and has an opportunity to move to 6-0 for the first time since 1950 this week at Texas A&M.
Allen, from Montclair, New Jersey, proved to be one of the nation’s elite pass rushers once again, taking over the game in the second half as the Cats protected a lead. He totaled eight tackles but it was his three sacks, four tackles for loss and forced fumble that rattled the Gamecocks and prevented any chance at a comeback.
The senior earned the award for the second consecutive week and third time in the first five weeks of the season. In the past two games he has totaled 14 tackles, four sacks, six tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and pass breakup. For the season he leads the SEC in sacks with six and tackles for loss with 10.5.
A preseason All-SEC selection and candidate for the Bednarik and Butkus awards, Allen leads all active SEC players with 20.5 sacks to go along with 30 tackles for loss. He now ranks third on UK’s career sacks list, trailing only Alvin “Bud” Dupree (23.5) and Oliver Barnett (26).
Asafo-Adjei, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound tackle from West Chester, Ohio, helped the Wildcats power their way to 195 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Affectionately known as “Big George,” the senior graded at 90 percent for the game with two knockdown blocks and 19 blocks at the point of attack while not missing an assignment or allowing a sack or pressure.
The Cats return to the field this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET when they face Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station. The game will air on ESPN.
Photo by Jamie H. Vaught
