July 28, 2004

O'Brien Award Watch List

OKLAHOMA CITY - The leading candidates for the 2004 Jim Thorpe Award have been announced in a preseason watch list released by the Jim Thorpe Association. Six ACC players are among the 29 candidates for the award: James Butler (Georgia Tech), Eric King (Wake Forest), Andre Maddox (NC State), Justin Miller (Clemson), Antrel Rolle (Miami) and Jimmy Williams (Virginia Tech).

The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back, is one of college football's most sought after and prestigious awards. It is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as "The Legend", Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists the first Monday in November and then to three finalists the Monday before Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show, telecast from Disney World on Dec. 9. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on Feb. 8.

The watch list is derived through a point system based on All-American teams and honorable mentions published in at least six preseason football magazines. A candidate must be listed as high as third-team All-American in at least one publication or as a fourth team or honorable mention in at least three of these publications. This list is not final as players not on the list who have exceptional seasons may be added at a later date.

JIM THORPE AWARD 2004 PRE-SEASON WATCH LIST
Jaxson Appel, Jr., Texas A&M
Oshiomoghe Atogwe, Sr., Stanford
Darnell Bing, So., USC
Jamal Brimmer, Sr., UNLV
Brandon Browner, So., Oregon State
Josh Bullocks, Jr., Nebraska
James Butler, Sr., Georgia Tech
Thomas Davis, Jr., Georgia
Dustin Fox, Sr., Ohio State
Aaron Francisco, Sr., BYU
Adam Jones, Jr., West Virginia
Marlin Jackson, Sr., Michigan
Eric King, Sr., Wake Forest
Jim Leonhard, Sr., Wisconsin
Donnie McClesky, Jr., California
Andre Maddox, Sr., NC State
Mitch Meeuwsen, Sr., Oregon State
Justin Miller, Jr., Clemson
Donte Nicholson, Sr., Oklahoma
Antonio Perkins, Sr., Oklahoma
Brodney Pool, Jr., Oklahoma
Antrel Rolle, Sr., Miami
Carlos Rogers, Sr., Auburn
Ernest Shazor, Sr., Michigan
Mark Walker, Sr., TCU
Corey Webster, Sr., LSU
Darrent Williams, Sr., Oklahoma State
Jimmy Williams, Jr., Virginia Tech
Alan Zemaitis, Jr., Penn State