UCLA football has their first player named to a preseason watch list as defensive back Adarius Pickett has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy list.
It has started ladies and gentlemen. Watch list season. Even though the majority of the award watch lists will be revealed in July, it is never to early to start looking at some the players that could make a difference in the coming season. For the UCLA football team, that includes DB Adarius Pickett.
RELATED: UCLA Football- What To Know With 100 Days To Go Until Kickoff
As it does every year, the Lott IMPACT Trophy acknowledges the achievements of the best defensive player in the country, but looks beyond what they do on the field.
Adarius Pickett has been named to the @TheLottTrophy watch list!#GoBruins | #4sUp pic.twitter.com/a0OFrNNX5L
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) May 23, 2018
Per their site, “The Lott IMPACT Trophy honors college football’s best in character and performance. The award is unique because it represents the first college football award to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.”
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
For those unfamiliar, IMPACT stands for: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. It is truly an award that is given to the most well-rounded defensive player and for Pickett to be associated with it is a big deal.
In the last few seasons, several UCLA football players have been named to the preseason list. What is more impressive is that a few even took the award home at the end of the season. In consecutive years, both LB Anthony Barr (2013) and LB Eric Kendricks (2014) won the award. So knowing what kind of company the Lott IMPACT Trophy keeps, it is quite something for another Bruin to be named.
Pickett has not just proven himself on the field, but also in the classroom as he has previously been named to the Athletic Director Honor Roll. Though he continues to excel in academics, he has also become a beast in the Bruins’ secondary. Last season he was second on the team in tackles with 85 (63 solo, 22 assisted), four of which went for a loss, with three pass breakups and one interception.
With Pickett returning this season, the Bruins’ secondary should be one of the best in the Pac-12 as UCLA also has heavy hitter Nate Meadors and Darnay Holmes helping to defend the skies.
Next: The 30 Greatest UCLA Football Players of All-Time
Though the Bruins are in transition, there is a lot of talent on this defense which looks to be a lot more active and aggressive come fall. Because of that, watch for several players, including Pickett, to excel under the new coaching regime. Congratulations, Adarius and Go Bruins!