CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS) -- College football season is still months away, but Virginia defensive end Chico Bennett Jr. is already on the radar for many entering next year.

Bennett Jr. was one of 42 players named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, joined Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter, Duke defensive lineman DeWayne Carter, UNC linebacker Cedric Gray, Miami safety Kamren Kinchens and Florida State defensive end Jared Verse from the ACC.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy is annually given to the defensive player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field since 2004.

After transferring from Georgia Tech and missing his first season at Virginia due to injury, Bennett Jr. exploded onto the scene with a team-high seven sacks last year and earned honorable mention All-ACC. Bennett Jr. ranks third among returning ACC players in sacks behind only Florida State's Verse (9) and Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku (8.5), while only playing ten games.

Bennett Jr. also enters next season as one of the top edge prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft. Walter Football ranks Bennett Jr. as the fifth-best defensive end and have UVA's bandit pass rusher as a projected first round pick in their early mock draft.