Two Big Ten Safeties Honored as Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalists

It’s awards season with the 2025 regular season winding down. On Monday, the semifinalist list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy was announced. The SEC led the way with three honorees, with the Big Ten having two.

Since 2004, the Lott IMPACT Trophy has been presented annually to the top defensive player in college football. One who also exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott. “IMPACT” is an acronym for “Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.”

This year, in a conference with plenty of noteworthy safeties, two have stood out.

The only returning semifinalist from last year, Caleb Downs, came up just short in 2024 as a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Even though he wasn’t given the award last year, he was one of the few unanimous first-team All-Americans in the game. This year, he’s been just as good.

Downs leads the nation’s top defense with 43 tackles, three tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and two interceptions.

His impact is greater than that which you can find on the box score, of course. Downs has demonstrated his incredible football IQ and reaction, creating more turnovers than he has personally secured. Last week, he keyed in on a wide-open receiver to break up the pass, sending it straight into the waiting arms of his teammate. If he elects to head to the NFL, Downs may grade out as the top overall prospect, locking himself down as a top-five pick.

In addition to making the semifinalist list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Downs is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and Thorpe Award (so far). He is looking to become the second Buckeye to take home the award, joining James Laurinaitis (2008).

The second premier safety to be honored is USC’s star, Bishop Fitzgerald. An older player, Fitzgerald has been a veteran presence for the Tojans’ defense after spending the last two seasons at NC State.

Fitzgerald is what they call a ball hawk of a safety. In nine games, he has five interceptions, leading the country. In the season-opening win over Missouri State, he returned his first interception in a USC jersey 39 yards for a touchdown. His performance in the win over Michigan was crucial to the team’s success, as he hauled in two interceptions.

In the year, Fitzgerald has 49 total tackles, two-and-a-half tackles for loss, one sack, and three pass breakups.

In addition to the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Fitzgerald was named a Thorpe Award semifinalist. Surprisingly, Fitzgerald would be the first USC Trojan to win the award if he does so.