Today, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association released the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. This list includes 42 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing nine conferences and one independent university. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.

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The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association release the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. (Photo: Business Wire)

2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List

Dontae Balfour, Charlotte, Jr.

Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma, Sr.

Shyheim Brown, Florida State, Jr.

Cobee Bryant, Kansas, Sr.

Denzel Burke, Ohio State, Sr.

Derek Carter, Jacksonville State, Jr.

Sebastian Castro, Iowa, Gr. Sr.

Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Jr.

Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.

Caleb Downs, Ohio State, So.

Daylen Everette, Georgia, Jr.

Jordan Favors, Appalachian State, Jr.

Brylan Green, Liberty, Jr.

Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, Jr.

Maxen Hook, Toledo, Sr.

Jack Howell, Colorado State, Sr.

Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.

Anthony Johnson Jr., Western Kentucky, Sr.

Ethan Johnson, Appalachian State, Jr.

Will Johnson, Michigan, Jr.

Donte Kent, Central Michigan, Sr.

Rayuan Lane III, Navy, Sr.

Ike Larsen, Utah State, Jr.

A’Marion McCoy, Boise State, Sr.

Donovan McMillon, Pittsburgh, Sr.

Malachi Moore, Alabama, Gr. Sr.

Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame, Jr.

Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon, Sr.

Seyi Oladipo, Boise State, Sr.

Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green, Sr.

Cameron Oliver, UNLV, Sr.

Gavin Pringle, Georgia State, Sr.

Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina, Sr.

Quincy Riley, Louisville, Sr.

Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Sr.

Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr.

Gabriel Taylor, Rice, Sr.

Dillon Thieneman, Purdue, So.

Jaden Voisin, South Alabama, Sr.

Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, Gr. Sr.

Aydan White, NC State, Sr.

Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin, Sr.

By Conference

AAC (4), ACC (5), Big Ten (7), Big 12 (5), CUSA (3), Independent (2), MAC (3), MW (5), SEC (4), Sun Belt (4)

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a 15-day period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2024 preseason watch list calendar:

Mon., July 29: Maxwell Award

Tue., July 30: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Wed., July 31: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award

Thu., Aug. 1: Paul Hornung Award/Allstate Wuerffel Trophy

Fri., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award

Mon., Aug. 5: Walter Camp Award

Tue., Aug. 6: Doak Walker Award

Wed., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award

Thu., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award

Fri., Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy

Mon., Aug. 12: Bednarik Award

Tue., Aug. 13: Butkus Award

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Important Dates

Wed., July 31: Preseason Watch List Announced

Tue., Oct. 29: Semifinalists Announced

A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors all defensive backs throughout the season, including watch list players and narrows the field to up to 15 semifinalists.

Tue., Nov. 26: Finalists Announced

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.

Thu., Dec. 12: Winner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards

The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards. 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.

Tue., Feb. 4, 2025: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet Honoring the 2024 Winner in Oklahoma City

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 www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

2023 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD WINNER

TREY TAYLOR, AIR FORCE

Trey Taylor came out of Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas and attended the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) where he was a three-year starter as a defensive back. Taylor started 10 games for the Falcons in 2021 and finished second on the team his sophomore season with 62 tackles, 39 solo, as well as one interception and one forced fumble. Taylor led the Falcons with 69 total tackles including a team leading 41 solo tackles as a junior in 2022. He finished his junior season with two interceptions and was named Second Team All-Mountain West Conference.

Trey Taylor became one of the most dominant defensive backs in the country as a senior winning the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. He finished his senior season as a First Team All-Mountain West Conference and Third-Team All-American selection. He compiled 71 total tackles, 39 solo, three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, and four pass break-ups. In addition to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Taylor also won the 2023 Defender of the Nation Award, given to a college football player from one of the nation’s service academies based on exceptional leadership and performance on and off the field. He is only the second player in USAFA history to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient.

Trey Taylor was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with the 223rd overall pick.

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.”

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