Preseason award watch lists are kind of a joke. After all, they often include a litany of unknown players in an attempt to drum up publicity from those players’ respective schools. However, sometimes watch lists are a laughing matter for an altogether different reason.
Like earlier this year, when the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list was released without the name of Florida State safety Derwin James. We had some fun with the ridiculous exclusion, and it appears that the folks at the Lott Trophy have seen the error of their ways. Today, James was named one of 20 quarterfinalists for the award, presented annually to “the player who exhibits the same characteristics [Ronnie] Lott embodied during his distinguished career.