Jim Thorpe Award names 39 defensive backs to watch list

The Jim Thorpe Award watch list was released on Friday morning as 39 of the top defensive backs from 10 conferences across the college football landscape were put up for the award given annually to the nation’s best defensive back.

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Players can be added and removed during the season, but here is the complete list released.

Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee

Bryce Callahan, Rice

Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern

Sam Carter, TCU

Jeremy Cash, Duke

Donald Celiscar, Western Michigan

Landon Collins, Alabama

Blake Countess, Michigan

Su’a Cravens, USC

Donte Deayon, Boise State

Quandre Diggs, Texas

Lorenzo Doss, Tulane

Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech

Clayton Geathers, UCF

Jacoby Glenn, UCF

Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida

Anthony Harris, Virginia

Rocky Hayes, Arkansas State

Jeremy Ioane, Boise State

Jordan Lucas, Penn State

Marcus Peters, Washington

Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

Jordan Richards, Stanford

Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma

Derron Smith, Fresno State

D’Joun Smith, Florida Atlantic

Trevon Stewart, Houston

Brian Suite, Utah State

Cam Thomas, Western Kentucky

Triston Wade, UTSA

Ryland Ward, Bowling Green

Trae Waynes, Michigan State

The Thorpe Award winner will be whittled down to three finalists with the winner announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11, 2014 that airs on ESPN. Former Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard won the award last year before being selected in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Who do you think will win the award this year?

Anthony Harris had eight interceptions last season, but my pick is Hargreaves with Ekpre-Olomu and Ramsey the other two finalists.

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