TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is expected to be one of the top defensive back prospects for next year’s NFL Draft. The New Jersey native was one of 42 players named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch list on Friday, according to the organization.
Through two seasons, Fitzpatrick has been stellar in the secondary.
He’s turned in 111 total tackles, including eight for loss and three sacks. His ability to track the football is second to none, as he has accumulated 18 pass breakups and eight interceptions. After signing in the Crimson Tide’s 2015 recruiting class, Fitzpatrick has seen action at star and filled in admirably at safety.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, the rising junior totaled 66 tackles, five tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and six picks a season ago. While his four career pick-sixes set an Alabama all-time school record, his 186 return yards off interceptions was second nationally in FBS in 2016. Fitzpatrick received first team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches and Associated Press, to pair beside the first team All-American honors he garnered from the AP, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Pro Football Focus.
He is one of eight Southeastern Conference players on the IMPACT watch list. Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
The 14th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy Awards will be held Dec. 10 at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
***All information above was provided via press release from UA’s athletic department of communications***
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
