Defensive back Boykin named to Lott Trophy watch list

Photo by Daniel Shirey, Red and Black

If you watched any Georgia football last year, you'll know that a lot while a lot of things went wrong, something always went right: special teams.

The Bulldogs were always a threat to opponents not only on punts (No. 1 in the country in punt average), but also on kick returns, where junior defensive back Brandon Boykin made a name for himself at Sanford Stadium.

Boykin set school records on kick returns last season with 38 returns, 988 return yards and three touchdown returns, including a 100-yard scamper from end zone to end zone against South Carolina on Sept. 14.

For his efforts, Boykin has been named one of 42 NCAA Division-I players and only SEC players to be named to the 2010 Lott Trophy Watch List, announced by Ronnie Lott and the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation on Thursday.

The only Georgia player to win the award was the David Pollack in 2004.

Finalists for the award are chosen for exhibiting the same traits Lott had during his career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Lott played his college football at the University of Southern California from 1977 to 1980. After college, he was a first-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1981, and played professionally until 1995.

This is an outstanding achievement for a well-deserved player who is quickly making a name for himself in the SEC. A solid year for Boykin in 2010 could not only win him this award, but also send him to the NFL a year early.