Football: Malcolm Jenkins On Jim Thorpe Watch List – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oklahoma City — The 2008 Jim Thorpe Award preseason “watch list” announced today includes 40 of the nation’s best defensive backs as the leading candidates for this year’s trophy, including Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins, a 2007 semifinalist for the honor.
The Thorpe Award is one of college football’s most sought after and prestigious awards. It is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend”, Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The Jim Thorpe Award “watch list” is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. Four points are awarded for First Team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for fourth teams and honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 40 players on the pre-season watch list. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.
A “Screening Committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.
The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists. The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner. The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, and the winner is announced during the show.
Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.
Asher Allen Jr Georgia
Nate Allen Jr South Florida
Antonio Baker Jr Louisiana Tech
Eric Berry So – Tennessee
David Bruton Sr Notre Dame
Joe Burnett Sr Univ. Central Florida
Jairus Byrd Jr Oregon
Chris Chancellor Jr Clemson
Kam Chancellor Jr Virginia Tech
Barry Church Jr Toledo
Patrick Chung Sr Oregon
Emanuel Cook Jr South Carolina
Vontae Davis Jr Illinois
Kevin Ellison Sr USC
Londen Fryar Sr W. Michigan
Courtney Greene – Sr. Rutgers
Michael Hamlin Sr. Clemson
Nic Harris – Sr. Oklahoma
Victor Harris Sr Virginia Tech
Stephen Hodge Sr TCU
Brandon Hughes Sr Oregon State
Malcolm Jenkins – Sr. – Ohio State
Rashad Johnson Sr Alabama
Jordan Lake Jr – Baylor
Trevard Lindley Jr – Kentucky
Taylor Mays Jr USC
D J Moore Jr Vanderbilt
Mike Mickens – Sr Cincinnati
William Moore Sr Missouri
Captain Munnerlyn Jr South Carolina
Troy Nolan Sr Arizona State
Derek Pegues – Jr. – Mississippi State
Tavious Polo So Florida Atlantic
Myron Rolle Jr Florida State
Corey Small Sr Florida Atlantic
Alphonso Smith Sr Wake Forest
DeAngelo Smith Sr – Cincinnati
Walter Thurmond Jr – Oregon
Chip Vaughn Sr Wake Forest
DeAndre Wright Sr New Mexico
