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Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net are proud to announce Milwaukee Marquette senior Michael Trotter as the inaugural recipient of the Jim Leonhard Award as the most outstanding senior defensive back in Wisconsin, part of the 1st Annual WSN Senior Football Awards. Trotter is a three-year starter for Marquette, which is very rare for Coach Dick Basham's program. A terror everywhere he goes on the football field, Michael plays sideline-to-sideline and is outstanding against both the run and pass. On the season, Trotter has racked up 125 tackles and 5 interceptions to go with 2 fumble recoveries.

Trotter has been one of the leaders (along with twin brother Marcus) of a Marquette defense that has put up some impressive showings and is a big reason why the team is in the Division 1 state final game against Menomonee Falls. Speaking of both Michael and Marcus, Coach Basham said: "They're two of the most outstanding young men we ve ever had at Marquette high school, not only form an athletic standpoint but a student standpoint. They re top-notch kids and nobody works harder than they do. They lead by example. They re both outstanding players and I really can't say enough about them."

In regards to Michael, Coach Basham sums it up best, "In my 38 years at Marquette, I haven't had anyone better at that position."

To view all the finalists for the Jim Leonhard Award, click here.

The award is named after Jim Leonhard, one of the most beloved players from the state of Wisconsin. Hailing from tiny Tony, Wisconsin and attending Flambeau High School, Leonhard was a two-time All-State selection. He walked-on at the University of Wisconsin, and quickly established himself as a leader and outstanding player. He started 39 games in his career, and his 21 career interceptions are tied for the most in Badger history and fourth in the Big Ten. He also broke the Big Ten punt return yardage record. Leonhard went undrafted, but hooked on with the Buffalo Bills before moving to the Baltimore Ravens. In 2009 he signed with the New York Jets and has started every game this year.

The voting panel for the WSN Senior Football Awards consisted of:  Dennis Semrau, Wisconsin State Journal; Todd Sommerfeldt, La Crosse Tribune; John Casper, Jr., Eau Claire Leader-Telegram; Mike McGivern, WSSP Radio in Milwaukee; Justin Hull, KFIZ Radio in Fond du Lac; Nicholas Kartos, President and Founder of WSN; and Travis Wilson, WSN Sports Content Producer