Tag: Jim Thorpe Award

Deion Sanders disagrees with Thorpe award finalists including UGA safety

Malaki Starks has been named as one of three Jim Thorpe finalists and Deion Sanders does not approve

Georgia safety Malaki Starks has been named one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back.

Starks, a native of Jefferson, Georgia, joins Texas’ Jahdae Barron and Ohio State’s Caleb Downs as finalists for the prestigious honor. Former Georgia All-American Deandre Baker claimed the Thorpe Award in 2018, Starks has now earned his place as a finalist in two consecutive seasons.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders did not approve of the three finalists for the Thorpe Award.

“How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Thorpe Award? You can have my award. You can have it back. Matter of fact, I’m going to give him mine. I ain’t using it. It’s just sitting up there collecting dust,” Sanders said.

“So Travis can have my Thorpe Award, because if this ain’t the most idiotic thing in college football, that he’s not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and he is, I would say arguably, but I don’t think it’s really an argument about this young man being the best defensive back in college football,” Sanders said.

Sanders has no qualms with Malaki Starks, but he disagrees with the selection of the three Thorpe finalists.

Starks has been a three year starter for defense at safety and arguably is one of the best to put on a Bulldog uniform. Starks has been a part of an All-American team since his freshman year, earning Freshman All-American honors and becoming a consensus First-Team All-American last season.

This year, Starks is tied for the team lead with 55 tackles, including four for loss, and has recorded an interception. Playing at the Star position, he has started 39 consecutive games and has been instrumental in helping Georgia’s defense hold four opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter in 2024, including top-ranked Texas on the road in Austin.

No. 10 Georgia (9-2, 6-2 SEC) will host Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC) in the Bulldogs’ regular season finale on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

Xavier Watts could be headed for another national award this fall

Will Watts attain another trophy after this season?

It was a breakout season for Notre Dame safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] last fall, as he was one of the most dominant players in the secondary across the country.

The former wide receiver’s play earned him the Bronko Nagurski Award last fall, but as he returned to South Bend, the expectations were that he’d be in the running once again.

No one said which award he’d be gunning for, and on Tuesday Watts was named as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Since 1986, the award has been giving out to the nation’s best defensive back, one that no previous Notre Dame player has won.

Watts has a legit shot at bring home the trophy, as he currently has 3 interceptions, six passes broken up along with 31 tackles on the season. While his pick numbers aren’t quite what they were last year with 7, he has plenty of time to match his total from 2023.

If he does that, Watts should be one of the finalist for the Thorpe and potentially win the award.

Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) intercepts a pass in front of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Abdul Janneh Jr. (4) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Jermod McCoy named Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week

Tennessee sophomore Jermod McCoy named Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week after the Oklahoma game.

Tennessee sophomore defensive back Jermod McCoy earned national honors after the Vols’, 25-15, win at Oklahoma in Week 4.

McCoy was named as the Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week. He recorded one interception, three tackles and one pass deflection against the Sooners.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

McCoy transferred to Tennessee from Oregon State ahead of the 2024 season.

The 6-foot, 193-pound cornerback appeared in 11 games for Oregon State during the 2023 regular-season. He recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery last season for the Beavers.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Wisconsin star safety named to 2024 Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Wisconsin star safety named to 2024 Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Wisconsin star safety Hunter Wohler was named to his second watch list on Wednesday, this for the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award.

Wohler is now on the watch list for this award, given to the nation’s best defensive back, and for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy given to the nation’s best overall defensive player.

Related: Everything to know about the Wisconsin Badgers quarterback room entering 2024 fall camp

Other notable nominees for the Jim Thorpe Award include Ohio State‘s Denzel Burke and Caleb Downs, Iowa‘s Sebastian Castro, Arizona’s Tacario Davis, Kentucky‘s Maxwell Hairston, Michigan‘s Will Johnson, Alabama‘s Malachi Moore, Notre Dame‘s Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts, Oregon‘s Jabbar Muhammad, Georgia‘s Malaki Starks and Purdue’s Dillon Thieneman. It’s a star-studded group of some of the nation’s top defenders.

Wohler enters 2024 after a breakout 120-tackle, 5.5 tackle-for-loss, 1.0-sack, 2-interception, 6 pass-deflection 2023 season that squarely put him on the map as one of the nation’s best defensive players, let alone just in the Big Ten.

He is expected to replicate that production this season as Wisconsin looks to make a significant jump in year two under head coach Luke Fickell.

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Two Ohio State football players named to Thorpe preseason watch list

Two more Buckeyes on a preseason award watch list. This time for the Thorpe. #GoBucks

The march of college football preseason watch lists continue, and Ohio State has thus far been well represented.

On Wednesday, the Thorpe Award released its watch list and both Caleb Downs and Denzel Burke were among the 35 names appearing. The Thorpe is one of the most prestigious awards in college football and goes to the player judged to be the best defensive back in the country annually. It has been around since 1986 and is voted on by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

You know the Buckeye duo well. Downs is coming off of a Freshman All-American campaign at Alabama, and Burke is a three-year starter and highly productive corner that will be be drafted in the NFL next April.

OSU is one of five schools that have two players appearing on the list.

Antoine Winfield and Malcom Jenkins are the only two Ohio State players that have won the Jim Thorpe Award. We’ll see if Downs or Burke can become the third when it’s announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.

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Jabbar Muhammad lands on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Oregon cornerback Jabbar Muhammad is on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list to begin the college football season.

Dan Lanning has an excellent batting average when it comes to transfer portal additions to the Oregon Ducks football team and he might have hit a home run here.

At least that’s the hope.

Oregon’s newest cornerback, Jabbar Muhammad, is on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. The award is given to college football’s best defensive back and Muhammad certainly has a chance to claim this one.

Formerly of Oklahoma State and Washington, Muhammad was one of the top corners last year as he led the Huskies’ defensive unit all the way to the national championship game against Michigan.

He hopes to do the same in Eugene.

Muhammad had 46 tackles, five for loss, two interceptions and 16 passes defended last season. In his four-year career, which includes the 2020 pandemic season, Muhammad has 118 tackles, four picks and 28 passes defended.

Oklahoma Sooners safety named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list

One of the best defensive backs in the nation were added to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

One of the best defensive backs in college football is taking the stage once again in 2024 as [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] opted to return to the Oklahoma Sooners for his senior season.

In 2023, Bowman erupted for six interceptions, returning three of them for interceptions. He became a highlight reel waiting to happen, making quarterbacks pay for trying him in the passing game.

In addition to his six interceptions, Bowman had three passes defended and three tackles for loss.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Bowman was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. The Thorpe Award is given to the best defensive back in the nation.

Bowman is expected to take another step in his development after his breakout 2023 season. In addition to his performance on the field, his leadership of the next generation of Sooners safeties is paramount, not only to what the defense can do in 2024 but beyond.

Young safeties like [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] are expected to step in for [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], who left the team after 2023.

[autotag]Rickey Dixon[/autotag] won the award in 1987, the second year of the Thorpe. [autotag]Roy Williams[/autotag] took home the trophy after a dominant 2001 campaign. [autotag]Derrick Strait[/autotag] is the last Sooner to take home the Thorpe back in 2004.

Only one other program in college football history has earned three Thorpe Awards, the LSU Tigers.

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Georgia DB Malaki Starks named Jim Thorpe Award finalist

Georgia football DB Malaki Starks named Jim Thorpe Award finalist

Georgia Bulldogs safety Malaki Starks is one of three finalists for the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.

Other finalists include Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Air Force’s Trey Taylor.

Starks has totaled 43 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions this year as one of the leaders of a stout Georgia secondary. Georgia’s defense is preparing to face Jalen Milroe and Alabama in the SEC championship game.

Starks earned Freshman All-American honors last season after racking up 68 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and two interceptions.

The former five-star prospect and Jefferson, Georgia, native has yet to miss a single game in a Bulldogs uniform. He would become UGA’s second Jim Thorpe Award winner after Deandre Baker in 2018.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 8 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry named a semifinalist for Jim Thorpe Award

Kool-Aid McKinstry named a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist!

The most prestigious award that a cornerback or safety can win in college football is Paycom’s Jim Thorpe Award. The award recognizes the top defensive back in college football. On Monday, the semifinalists were revealed. Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was one of 15 that made the cut.

Other SEC defensive backs that were also named semifinalists were Georgia cornerback Malaki Starks, Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, and Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson.

McKinstry has been a bright spot in Alabama’s secondary this season. He has 26 tackles, one sack, one interception, and five pass breakups. McKinstry is one of top cover corners in the country and is projected to be a first-round draft pick in this year’s NFL draft.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest news regarding the Alabama football program.

Notre Dame corner Benjamin Morrison a semi-finalist for national award

Could Morrison be the first member of the Irish to win the award?

Even though [autotag]Notre Dame football[/autotag] cornerback [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] won’t come close to the same production he had during his freshman season, national pundits are still noticing how well he has played.

When you pick off six passes as a true freshman, team’s tend to throw to the opposite side. That could be a reason why safety Xavier Watts has been on fire, his teammate Morrison having a lot to do with it.

It’s not like Morrison hasn’t been great this year, he’s got 20 tackles and 2 interceptions, and that was enough for the Paycom [autotag]Jim Thorpe Award[/autotag] to name him as a semi-finalist.

No member of the Notre Dame football team has won this award since it’s inception in 1986.

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