The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Acho named Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist
11.29.2011 | Football
Nov. 29, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Longhorns senior linebacker Emmanuel Acho has been named a finalist for the 2011 Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced today.
Acho becomes the fourth Longhorn to be selected as a finalist for the award in its eight-year history, following his brother DE Sam Acho in 2010, DE Brian Orakpo in 2008 and LB Derrick Johnson in 2004.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the Lott IMPACT Trophy is given to the player who exhibits: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
"Emmanuel excels on the field, but he's an even better person off the field," said Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. "As a parent, you'd want your kids to be like Emmanuel."
Acho has played in 46 career games (24 starts) and has registered 263 tackles (148 solo), eight sacks, 40 TFL, two INT (one TD return), 12 PBU, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 22 quarterback pressures. In 2011, he leads the Longhorns with 116 tackles (55 solo) and has three sacks, 18 TFL, one forced fumble, five PBU and 14 quarterback pressures.


A sport management major in the College of Education, Acho maintains a 3.42 GPA. A three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection, Acho was also named a 2011-12 Capital One Academic All-District 7 team member and is a six-time member of the UT Athletics Director's Honor Roll. Last year, Acho was honored with the Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholarship Award, which is a national award that recognizes minority student-athletes who are committed to both education and athletics.


This season, Acho has also been named a member of the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, was a Campbell Trophy semifinalist and is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
In addition, Acho and his family have made numerous medical mission trips to his parents' native country of Nigeria, where they hope to build a permanent hospital facility. He is a regular speaker to Fellowship of Christian Athletes groups and visits the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas each Friday before home games.

 


The eighth annual Lott Trophy awards banquet will be held Sunday evening, Dec. 11, at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, CA. The banquet will be televised live on FOX Sports, starting at 6 p.m. PST. Hall of Fame broadcaster Brent Musburger will be the keynote speaker. Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer, will receive an honorary Lott Trophy that night.
The other finalists are Dont'a Hightower of Alabama, Luke Kuechly of Boston College and Manti Te'o of Notre Dame. The IMPACT Foundation will award $25,000 to the general scholarship fund of the winner's university with each of the other finalists' schools receiving $5,000.
