NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Cal senor inside linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk was named Tuesday as one of 42 preseason watch list candidates across the nation for the Lott IMPACT Trophy as announced by the Pacific Club Impact Foundation. The award honoring Ronnie Lott is given annually to the college football defensive player who best exemplifies the IMPACT acronym of Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Candidates will be evaluated during the season with a Player of the Week chosen each week (with the school of each weekly winner receiving $1,000 for its general scholarship fund). The four finalists will attend the Lott IMPACT Trophy Banquet on December 9, in Newport Beach (with the school of each finalist receiving $25,000 for its general scholarship fund).

Below are notes on Kunaszyk with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.

Jordan Kunaszyk, ILB, 6-3, 235, Sr., 2L, Sacramento, CA (American River College/Roseville HS)

Pronunciation: kuh-NAW-shick
• Played in nine games with five starts and led Cal with a career-high 74 tackles as a 2017 junior while adding 6.0 tackles for loss (-41 yards), 3.5 sacks (-37 yards), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions that he returned for a team-high 53 yards and one quarterback hurry
• Had a huge game as a junior in a win over No. 8 Washington State when he recorded 11 tackles as well as career highs of 2.5 sacks and tackles for loss (31 tackle for loss and sack yards), his lone career forced fumble, an interception and a quarterback hurry to become the first Cal player to earn Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors while also picking up Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Game, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, College Sports Madness Defensive Player of the Week, California Muscle Milk Student-Athlete Of The Week and Cal Team Defensive Player of the Week recognition
• Registered a career-high 16 tackles as a junior at Colorado among three contests with 10 or more stops
• Played in all 12 games off the bench in his first season at Cal as a 2016 sophomore and contributed 51 tackles
• Produced one of the biggest moments in Cal football history when he batted Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert's pass into the air and eventually came up with the interception at the Cal 10-yard line on the game's final play to seal a 52-49 double overtime victory over the Ducks
• Has played in 21 career games with six starts in two seasons at Cal after transferring following his 2015 freshman campaign at American River College, contributing 125 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss (-42 yards), 3.5 sacks (-37 yards), three interceptions that he has returned for 60 yards, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry

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