Oregon Ducks’ Ugo Amadi named finalist for Lombardi Award

Ducks fans always knew Ugo Amadi’s value to the Oregon football program.  Now, that value is being recognized nationally.  On Tuesday Amadi was named one of seven finalists for the Lombardi Award, given annually to the top Division 1 football player, regardless of position, based on performance and leadership as well as character and resiliency.

The Ducks senior safety is a finalist along with fellow Pac-12 leader and Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew, Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love, Heisman Trophy winner and Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, Kansas State offensive tackle Dalton Risner, Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams, and defensive end Christian Wilkins of the National Champion Clemson Tigers.

The award will be presented at the Lombardi Honors event held in Houston, Texas on Friday, Jan. 25th.

More from the Oregon athletics press release:

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.

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