The Jim Thorpe Association announced today the 31 preseason nominees for the annual Jim Thorpe Award.
The award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back, was first presented in 1986 and is judged on athletic ability, performance and character.
Last year’s winner was Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio State.
Here’s the list of this year’s nominees:
Javier Arenas, AlabamaAaron Berry, PittsburghEric Berry, TennesseeAhmad Black, FloridaMorgan Burnett, Georgia TechKendric Burey, North CarolinaCrezdon Butler, ClemsonKam Chancellor, Virginia TechChris Chandler, ClemsonBarry Church, ToledoKurt Coleman, Ohio StatePerrish Cox, Oklahoma StateRas-I Dowling, VirginiaVan Eskridge, East CarolinaDominique Franks, OklahomaJoe Haden, FloridaDuke Ihenacho, San Jose StateReshad Jones, GeorgiaJordan Lake, BaylorMyron Lewis, VanderbiltTrevard Lindley, KentuckyTaylor Mays, USCAmari Spievey, IowaDarrell Stuckey, KansasEarl Thomas, TexasSydQuan Thompson, CaliforniaWalter Thurmond, OregonAlterraun Verner, UCLAStephen Virgil, Virginia TechDeunta Williams, North CarolinaKyle Wilson, Boise State