2016 Preseason Award Projections: Thorpe Award

By Charlie Campbell
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Heading into the 2016 college football season, WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises, and the next fall’s stars could be the headline players next May for the 2017 NFL Draft. We also will project the winners of the postseason awards that are given out to the best of college football.

The Jim Thorpe Award is given to the top defensive back in college football. Last year, the Thorpe Award went to Iowa cornerback Desmond King.

Thorpe Award Winner:

Eddie Jackson, Alabama

The last two Thorpe Award Winners have been players who were among the nation’s leaders in interceptions. Desmond King was second in the nation last year with seven picks, and the previous winner was Gerod Holliman from Louisville, who had 14 interceptions in his final season before being a seventh-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Given that the Thorpe Award favors players who have big interception totals, that makes it much harder to predict. I think a few factors favor Jackson as being a strong candidate to win the Thorpe Award.

First of all, Jackson notched six interceptions last season, which was only two less than King. Jackson was a dangerous deep center fielder who used his speed, instincts, and play-making ability to make splash plays downfield. I could see him doing that again this year, and he could be even better now that he has more experience at safety.

Alabama also plays with a lot of leads, and that causes teams to pass the ball a lot late in games. With the Crimson Tide having a dangerous pass rush, Jackson could benefit from a lot of errant throws. The Thorpe Award likes big interception totals, and Jackson is capable of producing that. Thus, he’s my prediction to win the 2016 Thorpe Award.




Thorpe Award Runner-Up:

Jalen Tabor, Florida

I think it is pretty funny that Tabor isn’t on the Thorpe Award watch-list considering he could be in the running for the best cornerback in college football this season and be the top draft-eligible cornerback for the NFL next April. Still, somehow Tabor was left off the watch-list but every year there are players who come out of nowhere to win postseason honors. Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy after redshirting the previous year, so the preseason watch lists don’t count more than the play on the field.

While Vernon Hargreaves III received more attention, one could make the argument that Tabor was the Gators’ best cornerback at times during the 2015 season. Hargreaves started the year well, but Tabor was playing better late in the season when Hargreaves seemed to be protecting himself. Tabor showed that he’s a gritty, physical corner with the ability to line up against a variety of receivers.

As a true freshman, Tabor totaled 31 tackles with an interception and eight passes broken. It was an impressive start to his collegiate career. Last year, he was the starter with Hargreaves and turned in a superb season. Tabor totaled 40 tackles, 14 passes broken up and four interceptions – two of them being pick-sixes – in 2015.

Tabor has good ball skills and is very aggressive to challenge receivers. He is very dangerous as he breaks hard on the football, thus he is a serious threat to put together a big interception total. There already is a spotlight on Tabor, so if he stays consistent to his play in 2015, he could easily be the Thorpe Award winner if he puts togehter a big interception total.




Thorpe Award Dark Horse:

Desmond King, Iowa

You could argue that King isn’t a dark horse because he won the award last year. But winning it two years in a row seems very unlikely. While King has great ball skills, I think Big Ten quarterbacks are going to avoid throwing his direction because he is such a threat to pick off passes. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if King sees a big drop in his interceptions and passes defensed because teams throw at the other Iowa cornerbacks. Plus, King plays in a running conference to begin with.

In the 20-year history of the Thorpe Award, no player has ever won the award twice, including a Hall of Famer like Deion Sanders. King as been a steady, consistent producer for Iowa, and there is no reason to think he won’t have another good season. However, the history of the award and the likelihood of decreased opportunities make King a serious dark horse for the Thorpe Award in 2016.

Honorable Mentions: LSU CB Tre’Davious White, Tennessee CB Cam Sutton, USC CB Adoree Jackson, Washington CB Sidney Jones, Virginia Tech CB Brandon Facyson, Clemson CB Cordrea Tankersley, LSU CB Dwayne Thomas, San Diego State CB Damontae Kazee, Michigan State CB Demetrious Cox, Colorado CB Chidobe Awuzie, Ohio State CB Gareon Conley, Michigan CB Jourdan Lewis, Florida CB Duke Dawson, Alabama CB Tony Brown, Connecticut CB Jamar Summers and Kansas CB Greg Allen.

LSU S Jamal Adams, Florida S Marcus Maye, Michigan S Jabrill Peppers, Kansas S Fish Smithson, Ole Miss S Tony Conner, Virginia S Quin Blanding, Auburn S Johnathan Ford, Georgia S Quincy Mauger, Baylor S Orion Stewart, Louisville S Josh Harvey-Clemons, North Carolina S Donnie Miles, UCLA S Randall Goforth, Notre Dame S Max Redfield and Florida State S Nate Andrews.











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