Junior LB Brandon Spikes is among 20 quarterfinalists for the Lott Trophy, awarded to college football’s defensive affect Player of the Year.

Now in its fifth year, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Seven different conferences are represented on the list of 20 with the SEC main the way with five candidates.  Ohio State (James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins) is the only school with two quarterfinalists. There are nine linebackers on the list, seven defensive linemen and four defensive backs. While there are 10 seniors on the list, there are plus nine juniors (and one sophomore, Eric Berry), the most underclassmen to construct the quarter-finalist Lott Trophy Watch List.

The 20 Quarterfinalists:

Asher Allen,

Eric Berry, So., DB, Tennessee

Aaron Curry, Sr., LB, Wake Forest

Brian Cushing, Sr., LB, USC

Zack Follett, Sr., LB, Cal

Mark Herzlich, Jr., LB, Boston College

George Hypolite, Sr., DT, Colorado

Jeremy Jarmon, Jr., DL, Kentucky

Malcolm Jenkins, Sr., DB, Ohio State

Jan Jorgensen, Jr., DE, BYU

James Laurinaitis, Sr., LB, Ohio State

Scott McKillop, Sr., LB, Pitt

Brit Miller, Sr., LB, Illinois

Eric Norwood, Jr., LB, South Carolina

Brian Orakpo, Sr., DE, Texas

Nick Reed, Sr., DE, Oregon

Myron Rolle, Jr., S, Florida State

George Selvie, Jr., DE, South Florida

Brandon Spikes, Jr., LB, Florida

Sean Weatherspoon, Jr., LB, Missouri