July 27, 2004
LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior safety Jamaal Brimmer is back on the official watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is awarded annually to the nation's top college defensive back.
All 29 players on this fall's list, which was released Tuesday, have been identified as candidates for All-America honors by at least one preseason publication. Brimmer, who has been named either first or second team All-American by at least four media outlets, was one of 13 semifinalists for the Thorpe a year ago after becoming the consensus choice for Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Only four other players on the 2004 list are returning Thorpe semifinalists. Joining Brimmer were Josh Bullocks of Nebraska, James Butler of Georgia Tech, Mark Walker of TCU and Darrent Williams of Oklahoma State.
A screening committee will narrow the Thorpe field to 10 semifinalists, which will be announced the first week in November. That list will be will be submitted to a national selection committee consisting of coaches, journalists and former players. Three finalists will be chosen just before Thanksgiving and invited to ESPN's College Football Awards Show at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., where the winner will be announced December 9. A formal presentation will take place at a banquet on February 8 in Oklahoma City, which is home to the Jim Thorpe Association.
The Thorpe is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, as well as a standout defensive back. Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
Last year's winner was Derrick Strait of Oklahoma. Greg Myers of Colorado State, who took home the trophy in 1995, remains the only winner from a Mountain West school. Former UNLV All-American cornerback Kevin Thomas was the only other Rebel to earn a spot on the Thorpe List, appearing in both 2000 and 2001.
JIM THORPE AWARD 2004 PRESEASON "WATCH LIST"
PLAYER, YR SCHOOL POSJaxson Appel, Jr Texas A&M SOshiomoghe Atogwe, Sr Stanford SDarnell Bing, So USC SJamal Brimmer, Sr UNLV SBrandon Browner, So Oregon State CBJosh Bullocks, Jr Nebraska SJames Butler, Sr Georgia Tech SThomas Davis, Jr Georgia SDustin Fox, Sr Ohio State CBAaron Francisco, Sr BYU SAdam Jones, Jr West Virginia CBMarlin Jackson, Sr Michigan CBEric King, Sr Wake Forest CBJim Leonhard, Sr Wisconsin SDonnie McClesky, Jr California SAndre Maddox, Sr N.C. State SMitch Meeuwsen, Sr Oregon State SJustin Miller, Jr Clemson CBDonte Nicholson, Sr Oklahoma SAntonio Perkins, Sr Oklahoma CBBrodney Pool, Jr Oklahoma SAntrel Rolle, Sr Miami CBCarlos Rogers, Sr Auburn CBErnest Shazor, Sr Michigan SMark Walker, Sr TCU CBCorey Webster, Sr LSU CBDarrent Williams, Sr Oklahoma St. CBJimmy Williams, Jr Virginia Tech CBAlan Zemaitis, Jr Penn State CB
