Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist

OKLAHOMA CITY--()--The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame has released the 2018 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watchlist.

This list includes 35 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing 11 conferences. The preseason watchlist is selected by a screening committee who compiles a list of 30-50 players. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football. The award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football.

The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award was established in 1986 and is named after the greatest all-around athlete in history, Jim Thorpe. As a native Oklahoman, Thorpe excelled not only 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.

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 (OSHOF) jointly announced in May 2017, an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As such, the accolade is called the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

The 2018 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, December 6, 2018, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in Oklahoma City.

The 2018 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watchlist
(Other defensive backs will be added as their season performance progresses)

NAME         SCHOOL
Dravon Askew-Henry, Sr.         West Virginia
DeAndre Baker, Sr.         Georgia
Kris Boyd, Sr.         Texas
Blace Brown, Sr.         Troy
Kyron Brown, Sr.         Akron
T.J. Carter, So.         Memphis
Justin Clifton, Sr.         Arkansas State
Lukas Denis, Sr.         Boston College
D’Cota Dixon, Sr.         Wisconsin
David Dowell, Jr.         Michigan State
Clifton Duck, Jr.         Appalachian State
Mike Edwards, Sr.         Kentucky
Jordan Fuller, Jr.         Ohio State
Kyle Gibson, Sr.         Central Florida
Mark Gilbert, Jr.         Duke
Malik Grant, Jr.         Marshall
Lavert Hill, Jr.         Michigan
Javon Hagan, Jr.         Ohio
Tyler Horton, Sr.         Boise State
Michael Jackson, Sr.         Miami-FL
Jah’Shawn Johnson, Sr.         Texas Tech
Jaquan Johnson, Sr.         Miami-FL
Shelton Lewis, Sr.         Florida Atlantic
Julian Love, Jr.         Notre Dame
Iman Marshall, Sr.         USC
Byron Murphy, So.         Washington
Kekoa Nawahine, Jr.         Boise State
Delvon Randall, Sr.         Temple
Taylor Rapp, Jr.         Washington
J.R. Reed, Jr.         Georgia
Amik Robertson, So.         Louisiana Tech
Marvell Tell III, Sr.         USC
Greedy Williams, So.         LSU
Andrew Wingard, Sr.         Wyoming
Jalen Young, Sr.         Florida Atlantic
       

By Conference: AAC (3), ACC (4), Big 10 (4), Big 12 (3), C-USA (4), IND (1), MAC (2), MW (3), PAC-12 (4), SEC (4), Sun Belt (3)

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA, and its now 23 awards, boasts over 800 recipients dating back to 1935. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.

The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watchlists over a two-week period. Sixteen of the association’s 23 awards select a preseason watchlist, and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the complete 2018 Preseason Watchlist Calendar.

Mon, July 16         Bednarik Award / Maxwell Trophy
Tues, July 17         Davey O’Brien Award
Wed, July 18         Doak Walker Award
Thurs, July 19         Biletnikoff Award
Fri, July 20         John Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy
Mon, July 23         Butkus Award / Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Tues, July 24         Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy
Wed, July 25         Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award
Thurs, July 26         Paul Hornung Award / Wuerffel Trophy
Fri, July 27         Walter Camp Award
       

Contacts

Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Mike James, 405-402-1833
President

mjames@oksportshof.org
or
Olivia James, 405-402-1836
Director of Advancement, Marketing & Event Coordination

ojames@oksportshof.org
or
Website: www.oksportshof.org

Contacts

Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Mike James, 405-402-1833
President

mjames@oksportshof.org
or
Olivia James, 405-402-1836
Director of Advancement, Marketing & Event Coordination

ojames@oksportshof.org
or
Website: www.oksportshof.org