University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU's Williams And Strait Named To Thorpe Award Watch List

July 24, 2001 | Football

By: Athletics Communications

July 24, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma defensive backs Roy Williams and Derrick Strait have been named to the 2001 Jim Thorpe Award pre-season "watch list." The Jim Thorpe Award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football by the Oklahoma City-based Jim Thorpe Association.

The "watch list" is derived from a compilation of players named on All-America teams and Honorable Mention charts published by various pre-season football magazines. It is not a list of final candidates, and players not listed may still receive consideration for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Williams, a native of Union City, Calif., is on the Jim Thorpe Award's Pre-Season Top 10 List. He was voted onto numerous all-Big 12 teams last season, and was named first-team All-American by rivals.com. He picked off two passes during the Sooners' 2000 national championship season, and added nine pass-break-ups, four sacks and 93 tackles.

Strait is an Austin, Texas, native entering his sophomore season. During the 2000 campaign, he was named to the freshman All-America team by The Sporting News, and was tabbed Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown versus then-No. 1-ranked Nebraska, and was fourth on the squad with 62 tackles. He added 15 pass deflections and two sacks.

Other defensive backs named to the pre-season "watch list" include: Lito Sheppard of Florida, Quentin Jammer of Texas, Mike Doss of Ohio State, Edward Reed and Mike Rumph of Miami (Fla.), Rashad Bauman of Oregon, Chris Hope of Florida State, Pig Prather of Mississippi State and Dennis Weathersby of Oregon State.

Three finalists will be announced the Monday before Thanksgiving. They will be invited to ESPN's College Football Awards Show at Disney World in Orlando, where the winner will be announced Dec. 6.

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