UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State sophomore linebacker Abdul Carter and junior cornerback Kalen King each have earned spots on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.
The Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation announced the 42 candidates and Penn State is one of seven schools with multiple candidates, joining Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, TCU and USC.
The 42-man Lott IMPACT® Trophy Watch List is comprised of 16 linebackers, 13 defensive backs and 13 defensive linemen.
Named after former NFL Hall of Fame star Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy annually goes to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, a player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, all characteristics exhibited by Lott during his illustrious playing career.
The annual winner is selected by a national voter panel, consisting of former winners, members of the media, coaches, and members of the Board of Directors of The IMPACT® Foundation. The winner is announced at a gala event at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California December 10, 2023.
Kalen King 2022 Accomplishments
- Named second-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
- Selected third-team All-America by Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-America by Phil Steele.
- Garnered third-team All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and media.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten first team, AP All-Big Ten second team and Phil Steele All-Big Ten second team.
- Earned the team's Keystone Award along with Carter and Juice Scruggs.
- Appeared in all 13 games, starting nine at cornerback.
- Made 30 tackles (23 solo), three tackles for loss, 18 pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
- Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game twice (Central Michigan, 9/24; Michigan State, 11/26).
- Led the Big Ten in passes defended (21; 3rd nationally) and pass breakups (18; 3rd).
- Finished tied for eighth in the conference in interceptions (3).
Abdul Carter 2022 Accomplishments
- Joined Deion Barnes (10 TFL, 6 sacks; 2012) as the only Penn State freshmen to record 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season.
- Was one of eight linebackers (10 instances) to put up 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season at Penn State.
- Became the first PSU linebacker since Dan Connor (15 TFL, 6.5 sacks; 2007) to reach the milestone.
- Earned All-Big Ten second team honors from the media and third team laurels from the coaches.
- Named a Phil Steele All-Big Ten second team selection.
- Earned a spot on the ESPN.com, Pro Football Focus, On3 and 247Sports' True Freshman All-American teams.
- Tabbed an FWAA and College Football News Freshman All-American.
- Named ECAC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
- Named Penn State's Keystone Award winner along with Kalen King and Juice Scruggs. Was a finalist for the Maxwell Football Club's Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
- Appeared in 13 games, making six starts.
- Tallied 56 tackles (36 solo) with 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.
- Led the team in sacks and was second in tackles and tackles for loss.
- Earned the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Week twice (Maryland, 11/12; Rutgers 11/19).
- Finished fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (6.5), tied for sixth in forced fumbles (2) and tied for 11th in tackles for loss (10.5).
- Paced all Big Ten freshmen in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles, and was second in tackles (56).
- Among FBS freshmen, was third in tackles for loss and tied for third in sacks.
Penn State Football's season opener on Sept. 2, against West Virginia in Beaver Stadium, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.
A total of 41 lettermen are returning for Penn State in 2023. The Nittany Lions return 13 starters – seven on offense and six on defense.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2023 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.