Nwokobia selected for Jim Thorpe Award watch list

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Nwokobia selected for Jim Thorpe Award watch list

OKLAHOMA CITY (SMU) – SMU safety Isaiah Nwokobia was named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced on Wednesday.

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.

Nwokobia led one of the most dominant defenses in college football, aiding the Mustangs to an undefeated conference mark and a first-time appearance in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) in 2024. SMU posted the second-best rushing defense in program history, allowing just 100.2 yards per game on the ground. The mark was good for seventh best in the FBS and tops in the conference.

Playing a key role in the success of SMU's defense, Nwokobia is one of two Mustangs to record 100-or-more tackles in the 2024 season. In the team's inaugural season in the ACC, his performance helped put SMU at the top of the conference in total defense (326.0), scoring defense (22.1), third down conversion pct. defense (0.330) and fourth down conversion pct. defense (0.415). He finished his junior season with an 88.1 defensive grade by Pro Football Focus (PFF), the eighth highest among any player who played 300 snaps in the conference last year.

Last season, Nwokobia earned many honors such as First Team All-ACC and Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention. The safety has already made an impression in the preseason, being named to numerous accolades including Phil Steele Preseason All-America Fourth Team and Preseason All-ACC First Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team, Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team and Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Third Team and Preseason All-ACC First Team.

The Dallas native is one of four ACC players to make the list, joining Duke's Terry Moore and Chandler Rivers and Clemson's Avieon Terrell. Ten conferences are represented in the watch list: AAC (3), ACC (4), Big 12 (4), Big Ten (6), CUSA (3), Independent (1), MAC (3), MW (3), SEC (5) and Sun Belt (3).

Semifinalists will be announced on October 28 and the three finalists will be disclosed on November 25. The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12 at 7 p.m. ET. Other recognized 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.

[highlander]

if he doesn't win, I would love to see who is more deserving...