HOUSTON - Coastal Carolina redshirt senior defensive end Tarron Jackson has been named a finalist for the Lombardi Award. The Lombardi Award is awarded by the Lombardi Foundation annually to the best college football player, regardless of position, based on performance, as well as leadership, character, and resiliency. The Award will be announced on February 17th during the annual Unite for Impact - Family Offices and Professional Athletes, a globally streamed, media event.
 
Joining Jackson as a finalist are Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, DeVonte Smith of Alabama, and Zaven Collins of Oklahoma. The Lombardi finalists were selected by a combination of analytical metrics and a select panel of journalists and broadcasters.
 
In 2020, Jackson led the team and was second in the Sun Belt in sacks with 8.5 on the year. He also led the Chants and was third in the league in tackles-for-loss with 14.0 despite seeing double-teams on over 60 percent of the snaps he played this year.
 
He was also tied for second in the Sun Belt with three forced fumbles on the year while also adding 54 total tackles, 18 quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery to his resume for 2020.
 
Jackson garnered All-America recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation (first team), Associated Press (first team), FWAA (first team), American Football Coaches Association (first team), ESPN (first team), the Reese's Senior Bowl (first team), the Phil Steele Publication (first team), Sporting News (second team), and CBS Sports/247Sports (second team) this postseason. He was also named a Senior CLASS second-team All-American.
 
Presently, All-America teams recognized by the NCAA include ones awarded by the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News (SN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF). To earn consensus status, players must appear on the first team of at least three of the five lists, with unanimous status being reserved for those who appear on all five.
 
With his first team honors from the AP, AFCA, FWAA, and the WCFF, Jackson is recognized as a consensus All-American.
 
Jackson was also tabbed the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Sun Belt first team honors for the second-straight season.
 
A three-time SBC Defensive Player of the Week selection this season, Jackson is also a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He was also named a 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist, a Bednarik Award semifinalist, a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, and earned a spot on Ted Hendricks Award watch list. He was also invited to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and was chosen to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
 
"It is my great honor to serve the Lombardi family and the college football community, while honoring the next generation of American leaders," said Rick Slemaker, the chairman of the Lombardi Foundation. "Leadership is what we now honor with the award named after one of America's most acclaimed leaders, Vince Lombardi. Today, leadership is the attribute in greatest demand, yet shortest supply and the foundation looks forward to honoring a deserving player at the Lombardi Honors" on February, 17th before a global, online audience.
 
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