The accolades continue to pile up for senior middle linebacker David Helton, who was named one of four finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, according to an announcement by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation. Helton is the first Duke student-athlete to be named a finalist for the award.
The three other 2014 finalists are Alabama’s Landon Collins, UCLA’s Eric Kendricks and Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha. Each student-athlete represents the qualities embodied by the award: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Earlier this week, Helton was named to the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association All-ACC first team.
The former Chattanoogan is a National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete and owns a 3.63 grade point average as a psychology major. He is a finalist for the NFF’s William V. Campbell Trophy that honors the top football student-athlete in the nation. Additionally, he is a Capital One/CoSIDA First Team All-District selection and a three-time Academic All-ACC Football Team pick.
For the Blue Devils on the field, Helton leads the ACC and ranks 15th nationally in tackles per game (10.42). In total tackles, he tops the league (125) and stands 11th nationally. He owns six games with double figure tackles in 2014 and is now tied for 10th in Duke history with 338 career tackles. Helton was named the Oct. 21 Lott IMPACT Player of the Week following his 14-tackle performance in a victory against Virginia.
The winner of the 2014 Lott IMPACT Trophy will be announced at The Lott IMPACT Trophy Award Banquet, held at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach on December 14. The award show will be televised live on Fox Sports at 10 PM ET, and will be hosted by Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft. Mike Pereira, former Vice President of Officiating of the National Football League will be featured as the keynote speaker.
The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation will make a $25,000 donation to the general scholarship fund of the winner’s university and $5,000 to each of the schools of the runner-ups. In 10 years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has now donated more than $1 million, including nearly $500,000 to universities throughout the country.
2014 Lott IMPACT Trophy Finalists:
Landon Collins, S, Alabama
David Helton, LB, Duke
Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
Hau'oli Kikaha, DE, Washington
Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT Trophy:
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2013 – Anthony Barr, UCLA