The Daily's preseason watch list reaction: Jim Thorpe Award
AT A GLANCE
OU players on the list:
• S Tony Jefferson
2012 watch lists
The Daily's picks for which players will appear on the following college football preseason watch lists:
• Maxwell Award
• Bednarik Award
• Mackey Award
• Rimington Trophy
• Lou Groza Award
• Ray Guy Award
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy
• Outland Trophy
• Jim Thorpe Award
• Butkus Award
• Rotary Lombardi Award
• Biletnikoff Award
• Davey O'Brien Award
• Doak Walker Award
• Walter Camp Award
Earlier this summer, we published our own preseason watch lists for all of the major college football awards. The official lists are now being released, so Daily sports reporters will offer their reactions. Released today: the Jim Thorpe Award.
JIM THORPE AWARD
Dillon Phillips, assistant sports editor: After making the Nagurski and Bednarik watch lists, OU senior cornerback Demontre Hurst was left off the Jim Thorpe watch list — go figure. Junior safety Tony Jefferson is only the Sooner player on the list, but fellow Oklahomans senior Dexter McCoil of Tulsa and senior Brodrick Brown of Oklahoma State also made the list.
Kedric Kitchens, sports editor: As I look at more and more of these preseason lists, I find myself struck by the number of guys from small schools that just clearly have no chance of winning the award — I think I have seen a representative from Florida International on at least four so far. It makes me realize what an honor just making the list is, regardless of your chance of winning. But for this award, I think it comes down to LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, OU's Jefferson and Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro.
Tobi Neidy, senior football writer: The Sooners weren't the best team defensively last season, but one bright spot on OU's 2012 roster is undoubtedly Jefferson, who appeared on the Jim Thorpe award watch list. Most defensive backs are known for their teeth-rattling hits but Jefferson's ability to track down poor decisions by opposing quarterbacks makes him a big-time threat in the Sooners' backfield. He led the team with four interceptions and had 74 tackles during his sophomore outing. And for his efforts, Jefferson was a 2011 All-Big 12 honorable mention. If he can continue from where he left off last season, Jefferson will most likely make one of this year's conference teams.
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