Smith on Jim Thorpe Watch List

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma defensive back Reggie Smith has been named to the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back.

Smith, who is one of 33 candidates, started 10 games in 2005 as a freshman and recorded 47 tackles en route to being named to The Sporting News' Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 teams.

The Edmond native joins four other Sooners that were named to various preseason watch lists this season in June (Adrian Peterson - Maxwell Award, C.J. Ah You and Larry Birdine - Hendricks Award and Rufus Alexander - Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy).

Smith, a 6-1, 199-pound sophomore from Sante Fe High School, started the last nine games of the 2005 season at strong safety and posted interceptions against Kansas State and Texas A&M. He also tackled a season-high eight versus Nebraska and Texas A&M.

Oklahoma has three Jim Thorpe Award winners in its historic program, two of which came under current head coach Bob Stoops. Derrick Strait last won the award in 2003, two years after Roy Williams was honored in 2001. Rickey Dixon became the Sooners' first recipient of the award in 1987.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists 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 December 7. The official presentation of the award by the Jim Thorpe Association will be in Oklahoma City on February 7.

2006 JIM THORPE AWARD “WATCH LIST”

Name, School, Class, Pos
Fred Bennett, S. Carolina, Sr, CB
Joe Burnett, UCF, So, CB
Bobby Blackshire, Tulsa, Sr, FS
Antoine Cason, Arizona, Jr, CB
Zach Cantanese, Arizona State, Sr, S
Marquice Cole, Northwestern, Sr, CB
Joe Garcia, Nevada, Sr, CB
Josh Gattis, Wake Forest, Sr, FS
Nick Graham, Tulsa, Sr, CB
Michael Griffin, Texas, Sr, SS
Leon Hall, Michigan, Sr, CB
Marcus Hamilton, Virginia, Sr, CB
Daymeion Hughes, California, Sr, CB
David Irons, Auburn, Sr, CB
LaRon Landry, LSU, Sr, FS
Marcus McCanley, Fresno State, Sr, CB
Brandon Meriweather, Miami (FL), Sr, SS
J.D. Nelson, Oregon, Sr, FS
David Overstreet, Missouri, Sr, FS
Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State, Sr, SS
Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL), So, SS
Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh, Jr, CB
Anthony Reddick Miami (FL), Jr, FS
Roderick Rogers, Wisconsin, Sr, FS
Reggie Smith, Oklahoma, So, CB
Wesley Smith, Memphis, Sr, FS
John Talley, Duke, Sr, CB
Eric Weddle, Utah, Sr, SS
John Wending, Wyoming, Sr, FS
Eric Wicks, West Virginia, Sr, SS
C.J. Wilson, Baylor, Sr, CB
Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame, Jr, SS

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors