Amadi Named Lombardi Award Finalist
01/15/19 | Football
HOUSTON, Texas – Oregon senior safety Ugochukwu Amadi has been named one of seven finalists for the Lombardi Award, given to the top Division I football player, regardless of positon, based on performance and leadership as well as character and resiliency.
Amadi's finalist recognition comes on the heels of a senior season in which he became the first FBS player since Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2015 with two pick-6s and a punt return for a TD in the same season. A Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, Amadi turned two of his three interceptions on the season into scores while also finishing with 55 tackles, including 5.0 for loss.
Over his final two seasons, Amadi amassed six interceptions, highlighted by three pick-6s, and forced four fumbles. His three pick-6s were nearly half of Oregon's eight defensive TDs over the last two seasons, which tied Cal for the most by a Power 5 team in 2017 and 2018 combined.
Amadi also took over punt return duties as a senior in 2018. He totaled 223 yards on 14 returns while his 15.93 yards per return average was best in the Pac-12 and seventh nationally amongst players with at least 10 returns. The Nashville, Tenn., product tied for the NCAA lead with two punt returns of 50-plus yards while five of his 14 returns went for over 20 yards.
The award will be presented on Friday, January 25, in Houston at the Lombardi Honors event. The other finalists include Julian Love (CB, Notre Dame), Gardner Minshew (QB, Washington State), Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma), Dalton Risner (OT, Kansas State), Jonah Williams (OT, Alabama) and Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson).
Amadi's finalist recognition comes on the heels of a senior season in which he became the first FBS player since Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2015 with two pick-6s and a punt return for a TD in the same season. A Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, Amadi turned two of his three interceptions on the season into scores while also finishing with 55 tackles, including 5.0 for loss.
Over his final two seasons, Amadi amassed six interceptions, highlighted by three pick-6s, and forced four fumbles. His three pick-6s were nearly half of Oregon's eight defensive TDs over the last two seasons, which tied Cal for the most by a Power 5 team in 2017 and 2018 combined.
Amadi also took over punt return duties as a senior in 2018. He totaled 223 yards on 14 returns while his 15.93 yards per return average was best in the Pac-12 and seventh nationally amongst players with at least 10 returns. The Nashville, Tenn., product tied for the NCAA lead with two punt returns of 50-plus yards while five of his 14 returns went for over 20 yards.
The award will be presented on Friday, January 25, in Houston at the Lombardi Honors event. The other finalists include Julian Love (CB, Notre Dame), Gardner Minshew (QB, Washington State), Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma), Dalton Risner (OT, Kansas State), Jonah Williams (OT, Alabama) and Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson).
Players Mentioned
S
/ FootballIapani Laloulu: "Focused on the future."
Wednesday, October 15
Brandon Finney Jr.: "Everybody's willing to work."
Wednesday, October 15
Dan Lanning: "Good competition."
Wednesday, October 15
Bear Alexander: "Having elite preparation."
Tuesday, October 14
