Courtney Love named to 14th annual Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list

Kentucky defensive star Courtney Love has been added to the 14th annual. Each year the award is given to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

The trophy is named after NFL Hall Of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, who was a star linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers during the years they won 4 of their 5 Super Bowls. It is given out by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to, “college football’s best in character and performance.”

Love, the former Nebraska transfer, played 13 games last season and was a captain in 12 of those games. The 6’2”, 242 lb. senior was third in tackles for UK with 76. He recovered a key fumble in the Louisville game that set up the game winning drive for the Cats. It was his first fumble recovery for the inside linebacker.

• Started in all 13 games and named a team captain in 12 games
• Ranked third on the team in tackles with 76
• Had a fumble recovery at Louisville that set up UK’s game-winning drive ... Marked his first fumble recovery as a Wildcat
• Named to the SEC Community Service team
• Saw game action for the first time since playing in 12 games at Nebraska in 2014 when he earned his first career start vs. Southern Miss
• Totaled a UK career-high nine tackles in his UK debut with one QBH
• Charted seven tackles vs. Georgia
• Had six tackles and a PBU at Missouri
• Registered six tackles and a sack at Alabama
• Also had six tackles at Tennessee
• Had eight tackles, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry vs. Georgia Tech in the bowl game
• Had an interesting experience in May with a one-week service/educational trip to Ethiopia
• Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll

Love is also very active in the community including being involved in the 2016 SEC Community Service Team. Love led UK with community service time last season.

Love is one of just 6 SEC players being considered for the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. The PAC 12 leads all conferences with 10.

Kentucky looks to have an impressive set of linebackers this season. Many believe they will make a significant improvement on both sides of the ball.

Sports On Earth writer Matt Brown sees the Cats as a possible breakout team this season with the potential to win 8 or 9 games

College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit expects UK to have a good year. He said, “I'll be very surprised if he (Coach Stoops) doesn't have a breakthrough year this year.”