The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced today that safety Andrew Mukuba has been named as one of 35 members on the 2022 watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back. Additional information from the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association is included below.
Visit the 2022 Preseason Honors hub for more preseason accolades garnered by Clemson.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association released today the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watchlist. This list includes 35 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences and one independent university. The preseason watchlist is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the Semifinalists and Finalists lists as the season progresses.
2022 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCHLIST
Jordan Anderson, Bowling Green, Sr.Jordan Battle, Alabama, Sr.Cole Bishop, Utah, So.Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford, Sr.Julius Brents, Kansas State, Sr.Davonte Brown, UCF, Jr.CJ Brown, Northern Illinois, So.Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State, Sr.Denzel Burke, Ohio State, So.Jalen Catalon, Arkansas, Jr.Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville, Jr.Xavier Henderson, Michigan State, Sr.Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State, Jr.Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh, Jr.Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU, Sr.Dorian Jackson, Western Michigan, Sr.Quindell Johnson, Memphis, Sr.Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, Jr.Steven Jones, Jr., Appalachian State, Sr.Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Jr.Antavious Lane, Georgia State, Jr.Kenny Logan, Jr., Kansas, Sr.Darrell Luter, Jr., South Alabama, Sr.Riley Moss, Iowa, Sr.Andrew Mukuba, Clemson, So.Gervarrius Owens, Houston, Sr.Clark Phillips III, Utah, So.Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State, Jr.Kelee Ringo, Georgia, So.Jammie Robinson, Florida State, Jr.JL Skinner, Boise State, Sr.Cam Smith, South Carolina, Jr.Christopher Smith, Georgia, Sr.Evan Williams, Fresno State, Sr.Rashad Wisdom, UTSA, Sr.
By ConferenceAAC (3), ACC (4), BIG TEN (6), BIG 12 (3), C-USA (1), IND (1), MAC (3), MW (2), PAC-12 (3), SEC (6), SUN BELT (3)
A preseason watchlist is compiled by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame based on previous performance and preseason All-America lists. A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors all defensive backs throughout the season, including watchlist players, and narrows the field to up to 15 semifinalists in October. This committee reconvenes on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
The winner will be announced on ESPN’s live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards. Other recognized National College Football Awards Association (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.
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.
For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit the link below.
www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org
The members of the NCFAA are unveiling preseason watchlists over a two-week period. Sixteen of the association’s 25 awards are presenting their preseason watchlist during this time, as the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the complete 2022 preseason watchlist calendar:
Mon., July 18: Maxwell AwardTue., July 19: Davey O’Brien Award Wed., July 20: Doak Walker AwardThu., July 21: Biletnikoff AwardFri., July 22: Mackey Award, Rimington TrophyMon., July 25: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Butkus AwardTue., July 26: Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski TrophyWed., July 27: Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy AwardThu., July 28: Paul Hornung Award, Wuerffel TrophyFri., July 29: Walter Camp AwardMon., August 1: Bednarik Award
PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD IMPORTANT DATES
July 25, 2022Preseason Watchlist Released
October 24, 2022Semifinalists Announced
ESPN Official Release TBDFinalists Announced
ESPN Official Release TBDWinner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show
February 7, 2023Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet Honoring the 2022 Winner in Oklahoma City
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. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.
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 jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.
