Tag: Jim Thorpe Award

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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Kalen King hopes to be Penn State’s first Jim Thorpe Award winner

Will Kalen King become Penn State’s first Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2023? The watch list has been revealed.

Penn State cornerback [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag] continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s top defensive backs, and now he is one step closer to being recognized as the best in the nation. King was named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award this week, recognizing Penn State’s top defensive back as one of the best in the nation in 2023.

The Jim Thorpe Award, presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame each year, is awarded to the top defensive back in college football. It is named after Jim Thorpe, arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time and a Pennsylvania sports legend for Carlisle Indiana Industrial School under head coach Pop Warner. Thorpe is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

King is coming off a stellar season in the Penn State defense in 2022. He was named a third-team All-Big Ten player by the Big Ten coaches and media and received third-team All-America from Pro Football Focus and an honorable mention for All-American by Phil Steele. The Walter Camp Football Foundation named King a second-team All-American.

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King intercepted three passes and forced a fumble last season. He also notched a fumble recovery. He was the Big Ten’s leader in defended passes with 21 and pass breakups with 18.

Penn State has never had a player win the Jim Thorpe Award. The first winner of the award in 1986 was Baylor’s Thomas Everett. Last year’s winner was Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson of TCU.

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Two Ohio State defensive backs make Tim Thorpe preseason watch list

Two OSU defensive backs are on the Jim Thorpe award preseason watch list. #GoBucks

It’s no secret the back end of the defense was an issue for Ohio State last season, especially when it comes to giving up big plays against the best teams on the schedule.

That figures to be different this season with more depth, some reinforcements via the transfer portal, and a second year in the Jim Knowles’ defense. But don’t take it just from us because the folks that hand out the Jim Thorpe Award seem to agree, naming two OSU defensive backs on the 2023 preseason watch list.

Cornerback Denzel Burke and safety Lathan Ransom were among 35 names identified as players to watch by the screening committee because of their performance last year in addition to expectations for this season. The Thorpe has been around since 1987 and recognizes the best defensive back in the country yearly.

Two Ohio State players have won the award with Antoine Winfield receiving the honor in 1998 and Malcolm Jenkins winning it ten years later in 2008.

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Lathan Ransom named a Thorpe Award semifinalist

Ransom a part of a select group!

On Monday, Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom was one of 12 players to be named a semifinalist for the 2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.

The Thorpe Award, handed out annually by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, goes to the best defensive back in college football. Other Big Ten players named semifinalists include Joey Porter Jr of Penn State and Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon.

Ransom, a three-year safety for the Buckeyes, is out of Salpointe Catholic High School in Tuscon, Arizona, and currently ranks third on the team in tackles with 29. He also has an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery on the year.

The Thorpe Award will be whittled down to three finalists at the end of the regular season. The winner will be announced Thursday, December 8th, live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show.

Two Ohio State players have won the Thorpe Award. Antoine Winfield won the award in 1998 and Malcolm Jenkins took it home in 2008.

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Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Riley Moss named to 2022 Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Iowa cornerback Riley Moss was named to the preseason Jim Thorpe Award watch list, showcasing he’s among the nation’s top defensive backs.

Iowa cornerback Riley Moss recently was named on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award.

The Jim Thorpe award is one of the most prestigious in all of college football, awarded to the best defensive back in the nation since 1986. It is voted on by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. It is of course named after the great Jim Thorpe.

A little history lesson here for those who don’t know. Jim Thorpe is one of the biggest reasons why football is as popular as it is today. Back in his day, there was not an athlete more famous than Thorpe, certainly not one as great.

Jim Thorpe won the gold medal in pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympics and was one of the best to ever step foot on the gridiron. He was a two-time NCAA All-American, was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. He also served as the first president for what would become the NFL. There are few names that hold more weight in football than Jim Thorpe.

There are only a select few awards in college football more prestigious than the Jim Thorpe Award and, for a defensive back, perhaps none that are grander. Some past recipients include Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, Patrick Peterson, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Former Hawkeye Desmond King won the award back in 2015 and is still the only Iowa player to do so.

Last year, Riley Moss proved he was the best defensive back in the Big Ten, earning the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year. This year, his goal is to bring home the Thorpe as the best defensive back in the nation. He came close last year, finishing as a semifinalist, but now he has one last chance to earn it in his senior year.

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Two Notre Dame defensive players make preseason award watch lists

Watch out for these two players on defense this year.

The preseason award watch lists continue to come out, and Notre Dame continues to be represented. We recently saw numerous Irish players on the offensive side of the ball be named. Now, we’re seeing the defense get its turn. So far, we know that two defenders have been deemed players to watch.

[autotag]JD Bertrand[/autotag]’s 102 tackles led the Irish last season. Now, he’s a contender for the Butkus Award, which is given to the country’s top linebacker. The Irish are developing quite the reputation for winning this award as they have done so three times, all during the past decade: [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] in 2012, [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag] in 2015 and [autotag]Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah[/autotag] in 2020.

[autotag]Brandon Joseph[/autotag] comes to the Irish after three years with Northwestern, and there already are high expectations for him. The 2020 All-American is on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is awarded to college football’s best defensive back. He would be the first to win this award for the Irish.

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Mukuba named to watch list for nation’s top DB

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced today that safety Andrew Mukuba has been named as one of 35 members on the 2022 watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back. …

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced today that safety Andrew Mukuba has been named as one of 35 members on the 2022 watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back. Additional information from the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association is included below:

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association released today the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watchlist. This list includes 35 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences and one independent university. The preseason watchlist is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the Semifinalists and Finalists lists as the season progresses. 

2022 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCHLIST

Jordan Anderson, Bowling Green, Sr. Jordan Battle, Alabama, Sr. Cole Bishop, Utah, So. Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford, Sr. Julius Brents, Kansas State, Sr. Davonte Brown, UCF, Jr. CJ Brown, Northern Illinois, So. Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State, Sr. Denzel Burke, Ohio State, So. Jalen Catalon, Arkansas, Jr. Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville, Jr. Xavier Henderson, Michigan State, Sr. Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State, Jr. Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh, Jr. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU, Sr. Dorian Jackson, Western Michigan, Sr. Quindell Johnson, Memphis, Sr. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, Jr. Steven Jones, Jr., Appalachian State, Sr. Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Jr. Antavious Lane, Georgia State, Jr. Kenny Logan, Jr., Kansas, Sr. Darrell Luter, Jr., South Alabama, Sr. Riley Moss, Iowa, Sr. Andrew Mukuba, Clemson, So. Gervarrius Owens, Houston, Sr. Clark Phillips III, Utah, So. Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State, Jr. Kelee Ringo, Georgia, So. Jammie Robinson, Florida State, Jr., JL Skinner, Boise State, Sr. Cam Smith, South Carolina, Jr. Christopher Smith, Georgia, Sr. Evan Williams, Fresno State, Sr. Rashad Wisdom, UTSA, Sr.

By Conference AAC (3), ACC (4), BIG TEN (6), BIG 12 (3), C-USA (1), IND (1), MAC (3), MW (2), PAC-12 (3), SEC (6), SUN BELT (3)

A preseason watchlist is compiled by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame based on previous performance and preseason All-America lists. A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors all defensive backs throughout the season, including watchlist players, and narrows the field to up to 15 semifinalists in October. This committee reconvenes on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.

The winner will be announced on ESPN’s live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards. Other recognized National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit the link below.

www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org

The members of the NCFAA are unveiling preseason watchlists over a two-week period. Sixteen of the association’s 25 awards are presenting their preseason watchlist during this time, as the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the complete 2022 preseason watchlist calendar:

Mon., July 18: Maxwell Award Tue., July 19: Davey O’Brien Award Wed., July 20: Doak Walker Award

Thu., July 21: Biletnikoff Award Fri., July 22: Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy Mon., July 25: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Butkus Award Tue., July 26: Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Wed., July 27: Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award Thu., July 28: Paul Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy Fri., July 29: Walter Camp Award

Mon., August 1: Bednarik Award

PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD IMPORTANT DATES

July 25, 2022 Preseason Watchlist Released October 24, 2022 Semifinalists Announced ESPN Official Release TBD Finalists Announced ESPN Official Release TBD Winner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show February 7, 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet Honoring the 2022 Winner in Oklahoma City

2021 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD WINNER COBY BRYANT, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Coby Bryant was a three-star prospect while at Glenville High School in Cleveland. He was named 2016 Associated Press All-Northeast Lakes District Division II honorable mention and a Senate League All-Star. Bryant helped lead Glenville to a 7-0 record in Senate League play and attended the University of Cincinnati (UC) following high school.

Bryant played in 12 games on special teams and in the defensive backfield as a true freshman. As a sophomore, Bryant played in 13 games, making 12 starts at cornerback. He finished his second year at UC with 33 tackles (30 solo) and set a team-high with 11 passes defended and a forced fumble. Coby established himself as a top defensive back in 2019. He finished fifth on the team with 54 tackles. He had eight pass breakups and an interception while being named to the 2019 AAC All-Academic Team. A 2020 First-Team All-AAC honoree, Bryant tied for the league lead with 11 passes defended, a team-best four interceptions and seven pass breakups. He finished with 35 tackles and a forced fumble. Bryant also earned his undergraduate degree in 2020.

The first Cincinnati defensive back to receive the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Coby elected to use his additional year of eligibility and returned to Cincinnati in 2021 as a graduate student. Bryant recorded three interceptions, three forced fumbles, 11 pass breakups, 14 passes defended and 41 tackles in 2021. The Bearcats ranked No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference for interceptions, passes defended, passing yards allowed per game, passer rating against and completion percentage against. His 45 career passes defended is the second most in Cincinnati history, and he was named first team All-AAC for the second straight season. Coby Bryant was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, with the 109th overall pick.

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. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors. Paycom Software, Inc. (“Paycom”) (NYSE: PAYC), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

Richard Sherman: Seahawks got a steal with Coby Bryant in fourth round

The Seahawks’ 2022 NFL draft class is so good that even their most vocal critic can’t find fault in it.

The Seahawks’ 2022 NFL draft class is so good that even their most vocal critic can’t find fault in it. Former Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman has gone out of his way to praise some of the team’s picks, including Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III in the second round.

On his podcast that was released yesterday, Sherman also said he really likes the Seahawks getting Cincinnati corner and Jim Thorpe award winner Coby Bryant in the fourth round.

Bryant is an exception to the rule for this 2022 Seahawks rookie class when it comes to athletic testing – where he’s only slightly above average at his position.

However, Bryant more than proved he’s capable of balling out on the field even in a difficult situation. With opposing quarterbacks desperately trying to avoid throwing at his teammate Sauce Gardner (who went to the Jets at No. 4 overall), Bryant got a lot of attention and acquitted himself extremely well. He totaled nine picks and 35 pass breakups in college.

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