Boise State edge rusher named to preseason watch list

Boise State junior edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan is one of 42 players to make the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.

The award, which has been presented annually since 2004, goes to college footballs best defensive player who makes an IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity) in performance and character.

The 42 nominees were announced on Wednesday.

Colorados Travis Hunter received last years Lott IMPACT Trophy.

He also edged out Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty for the Heisman Trophy.

Jayden Virgin-Morgan starred on Boise States defensive front as a sophomore, leading the team with 10 sacks while recording 40 total tackles (15.5 for loss), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He was voted first-team all-Mountain West Conference.

The 6-foot-3, 253-pound Virgin-Morgan is the only Group of 5 player on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.

Hes a guy whos been putting in the work constantly, day in and day out, Boise State edge rusher coach Jabril Frazier said of Virgin-Morgan.

He had a really good spring in the weight room.

Hes put on some more weight, more mass.

Hes got more strength and I feel is even more explosive now.

He knows the role hes going to have this year, similar to the role that Ahmed (Hassanein) had going into his senior year in terms of guys know who you are now.

How do you handle that? Hassanein, a sixth-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions, had 9.5 sacks last year as Boise State led the country with 55 total sacks.

Here are the 42 players on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.

David Bailey, Texas Tech, Linebacker Rueben Bain, Miami, Edge Caleb Banks, Florida, Defensive Tackle Taye Brown, Arizona, Linebacker Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, Defensive Tackle Tacario Davis, Washington, Cornerback Caleb Downs, Ohio State, Safety Daylen Everette, Georgia, Cornerback Keldric Faulk, Auburn, Edge Eric Gentry, USC, Linebacker Aaron Graves, Iowa, Defensive Tackle AJ Harris, Penn State, Cornerback Anthony Hill, Texas, Linebacker Gabe Jacas, Illinois, Linebacker Mikail Kamara, Indiana, Linebacker Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina, Defensive Back Deontae Lawson, Alabama, Linebacker Kyle Louis, Pitt, Linebacker Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, Cornerback DJ McKinney, Colorado, Cornerback Derrick Moore, Michigan, Edge Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, Cornerback Eric ONeill, Rutgers, Edge LT Overton, Alabama, Defensive Tackle TJ Parker, Clemson, Edge Koi Perich, Minnesota, Safety Harold Perkins Jr., LSU, Linebacker Kamari Ramsey, USC, Safety Chandler Rivers, Duke, Cornerback Colin Simmons, Texas, Edge Anthony Smith, Minnesota, Defensive Tackle Xavian Sorey Jr., Arkansas, Linebacker Dylan Stewart, South Carolina, Edge Sonny Styles, Ohio State, Linebacker Michael Taaffe, Texas, Safety Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, Safety R.

Mason Thomas, Oklahoma, Defensive End Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon, Edge Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise State, Edge Whit Weeks, LSU, Linebacker Peter Woods, Clemson, Defensive Tackle Taurean York, Texas A&M, Linebacker.

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