May 19, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU FOOTBALL PRESEASON ACCOLADES | WATCH LIST
San Diego State senior linebacker Calvin Munson (St. Charles, Mo.) was named to the 2016 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation recently announced. Munson is one of 42 student-athletes on the list and one of just five from a non-Power 5 program.
The 42 players from 33 universities throughout the country represent student-athletes who exhibit the characteristics displayed by Ronnie Lott during his legendary and professional careers. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Munson is just the second Aztec to ever be named to Lott IMPACT Trophy List, joining Nat Berhe in 2013.
Munson finished with a team-high 98 tackles last season, the second most by a SDSU player in head coach Rocky Long's defensive coordinator era (since 2009), trailing only Berhe's 99 stops in 2013. He also led San Diego State in tackles for loss (15.0 for 84 yards), sacks (9.5 for 75 yards) and fumble recoveries (2, tied), while adding seven quarterback hurries, two interceptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups.
For his efforts last year, Munson was a Phil Steele Magazine third-team All-American and an all-Mountain West first-team pick. He also joined Damontae Kazee as the Aztecs' defensive players of the year (Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy). In the opening week of the season, Munson was chosen as a national player of the week by both Lott IMPACT Trophy and Walter Camp, and the MW Defensive Player of the Week, after recording a team-high 11 stops, including 2.5 for a loss, two interceptions returned for a touchdown, a sack and a fumble recovery in a 37-3 win over San Diego.
In his three-year career, Munson has amassed 185 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, six interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Prior to earning first-team all-MW accolades last year, Munson was an honorable-mention pick in 2014. He has started each of the last 27 games at outside linebacker entering his senior campaign.
The winner, announced in December at a gala black-tie dinner, will receive $25,000 for his school's general scholarship fund while each of the three runner-ups will receive $5,000 for their respective schools. A national voter panel of more than 300 former college coaches, players and members of the media vote on the award.
SDSU is coming off an 11-3 season where it tied a school record for the most wins in a single year, finished with a 10-game winning streak (second-longest active FBS streak heading into 2016), won the MW title (20th conference title in program history) and beat Cincinnati, 42-7, in the Hawai'i Bowl.
San Diego State is accepting new account deposits on 2016 season tickets through the Aztec Ticket Office. Additionally, current season-ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2016 season. Fans can purchase tickets through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.