Jim Thorpe Award List - Semifinalists

Photo - Corner D.J. Moore - Vanderbilt

Thirteen of the nation’s best college football defensive backs were announced as finalists for the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award. The award named after Oklahoma born Native American sports legend Jim Thorpe, is presented annually to the defensive back who best exhibits performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The semifinalist list will be narrowed to three finalists on Monday, November 24, and the winner will be announced on the ESPNU College Football Awards Show, broadcast nationally on Thursday, December 11. Formal presentation will be at a banquet in Oklahoma City, Monday, February 11, 2009. Frank Coyle has been a Jim Thorpe voter the past 15 years.

2008 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists:

Asher Allen, Jr., Georgia
Eric Berry, So., Tennessee
Emanuel Cook, Jr., So. Carolina
Vontae Davis, Jr., Illinois
Trimane Goddard, Sr., N. Carolina
Malcolm Jenkins, Sr., Ohio St
Trevard Lindley, Jr., Kentucky
Taylor Mays, Jr., USC
Mike Mickens, Sr., Cincinnati
D. J. Moore, Jr., Vanderbilt
William Moore, Sr., Missouri
Alphonso Smith, Sr., Wake Forest
Otis Wiley, Sr., Michigan St

Wiley and Goddard were added to the award’s preseason ‘watch list’ midway through the season. The first Jim Thorpe Award was presented in 1986 to Thomas Everett, Baylor, and last year’s trophy went to Antoine Cason, Arizona.
Jim Thorpe is generally considered history’s greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend”, Thorpe also played professional baseball and won gold medals in the 1912 Olympics decathlon and pentathlon.