Article by NU Communications Current Cornhuskers&nbsp;Mohamed Barry&nbsp;and&nbsp;Damian Jackson&nbsp;were announced as contenders for national awards on Thursday, while former Husker All-American&nbsp;Dominic Raiola&nbsp;was named a finalist for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp;Barry, a senior inside linebacker, was announced as one of 20 quarterfinalists for the 2019 Lott IMPACT Trophy. The award, now in its 16th season, recognizes the player who makes the biggest IMPACT on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. The winner will be announced on Dec. 15.&nbsp;A native of Grayson, Georgia, Barry leads Nebraska and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 49 tackles this season. A 2019 team captain, Barry has started every game since the beginning of the 2018 season, leading the Huskers in tackles in 13 of 18 games during that stretch. A 2018 third-team All-Big Ten selection, Barry is already a college graduate as he earned his degree in ethnic studies last May. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and is a four-time member of both the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship Teams for his outreach efforts in the community.&nbsp;Also on Thursday, Jackson was one of 33 individuals nominated for the 2019 Armed Forces Award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America. Jackson was one of 12 current players nominated for the award from all divisions of college football, including one of only four players from the FBS level. Coordinated by the staff at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA was created in June 2012 "to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football."&nbsp;The recipient of the 2019 Armed Forces Merit Award will be announced the week of November 3 or 10.&nbsp;Jackson is in his third year with the Husker football program, and he also serves as Nebraska's No. 2 long-snapper in addition to his role on the defensive line. Before enrolling at Nebraska, Jackson served as a member of the Navy SEALs for four years after graduating from Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas.&nbsp;While two current Huskers were recognized on Thursday, Raiola was named one of 10 finalists for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. From the 10 finalists, the 2020 Class of the Polynesian Hall of Fame will be announced on Oct. 23, 2019, and the class will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend and during the Polynesian Bowl on Jan. 17 and 18, 2020.&nbsp;A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Raiola was a consensus first-team All-American in 2000, when he also won the inaugural&nbsp;Dave Rimington&nbsp;Award as the nation's top center. Raiola was also a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection who set Nebraska season records for pancake blocks in 1999. Following his Husker career, Raiola was selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft with the 50th overall pick by the Detroit Lions. Raiola started 203 games in his 14 seasons with the Lions.

Trio of Huskers Recognized on Thursday