The Thorpe Award is given to the best defensive back in college football. And no, not the corner you blitz off the edge in NCAA 12 that makes 22 sacks in a season. Eric Berry from Tennessee won the Thorpe in 2009 and LSUās Patrick Peterson won the award in 2010. Can the SEC make it three in a row? The SEC and Big 12 have combined to win eight of the last 10 Thorpe awards. The semifinalists will be named on Halloween. Here is a list of guys on the initial watch list from the SEC and Big 12.
SEC
S Mark Barron, Alabama- Lot of name recognition and all-conference awards
CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia- Passed on the NFL for one more year in Athens, excellent kick returner too
CB Morris Claiborne, LSU- Goes from being on the other side of Patrick Peterson to being the man
S Matt Elam, Florida- Big recruit looking to flourish in Muschampās system
CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina- Big name trying to play up to reputation
CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt- Undervalued corner finished second in the SEC in interceptions in 2010
CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama- High-profile recruit ready to be a star
S Robert Lester, Alabama- Led the SEC in interceptions in 2010 with eight
S Tramain Thomas, Arkansas- Underrated safety stuck in the shadows of Lester and Barron, for now
S Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee- Plays a little bit of everything in the secondary
Big 12
CB Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma- Reinstated after missing the spring semester for academic reasons, tied for Big 12 lead in interceptions with five in 2010
S Blake Giedon, Texas- Continues to fight to be remembered for something other than dropping that interception at Texas Tech
S Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma- Made 65 tackles and two interceptions as a freshman
S Leonard Johnson, Iowa State- In 2010, Johnson made 64 tackles and one interception
CB Coryell Judie, Texas A&M- A first round NFL talent, he made four interceptions in 2010 as a junior
S Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State- Martin made 55 tackles and had three interceptions to lead a bewildered Cowboy defense.
Flint Harris at Holyturf.com
SEC
S Mark Barron, Alabama- Lot of name recognition and all-conference awards
CB Brandon Boykin, Georgia- Passed on the NFL for one more year in Athens, excellent kick returner too
CB Morris Claiborne, LSU- Goes from being on the other side of Patrick Peterson to being the man
S Matt Elam, Florida- Big recruit looking to flourish in Muschampās system
CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina- Big name trying to play up to reputation
CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt- Undervalued corner finished second in the SEC in interceptions in 2010
CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama- High-profile recruit ready to be a star
S Robert Lester, Alabama- Led the SEC in interceptions in 2010 with eight
S Tramain Thomas, Arkansas- Underrated safety stuck in the shadows of Lester and Barron, for now
S Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee- Plays a little bit of everything in the secondary
Big 12
CB Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma- Reinstated after missing the spring semester for academic reasons, tied for Big 12 lead in interceptions with five in 2010
S Blake Giedon, Texas- Continues to fight to be remembered for something other than dropping that interception at Texas Tech
S Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma- Made 65 tackles and two interceptions as a freshman
S Leonard Johnson, Iowa State- In 2010, Johnson made 64 tackles and one interception
CB Coryell Judie, Texas A&M- A first round NFL talent, he made four interceptions in 2010 as a junior
S Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State- Martin made 55 tackles and had three interceptions to lead a bewildered Cowboy defense.
Flint Harris at Holyturf.com
