Earl Thomas named to 2009 Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Sophomore S Earl Thomas has been selected to the watch list for the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award, honoring the nation’s best defensive back, the Jim Thorpe Association has announced. Thomas will be looking to join former Longhorns Aaron Ross (2006) and Michael Huff (2005) as winners of the Thorpe Award. UT’s Quentin Jammer was a finalist for the award in 2001.

An Orange, Texas native, Thomas started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2008, earning first-team Freshman All-America and honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. He ranked second on the team in tackles with 72 (51 solo) and set a UT freshman record with 17 PBU. Thomas also posted two INTs with both coming in Texas’ 45-35 victory over Oklahoma to go along with three TFL, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt.

The Thorpe Award is named after Jim Thorpe, who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also at defensive back on defense.  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.

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 sportswriters, 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 Feb. 2, 2010.

Source: MackBrown-TexasFootball.com