OKLAHOMA CITY – University of South Alabama junior cornerback Jeremy Reaves was chosen for the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List Monday, making him one of 39 individuals from 10 conferences in consideration for the honor presented to the nation's best defensive back.
Reaves is coming off a campaign in which he recorded career highs with 96 total tackles — the most among Jaguars returning this fall — eight stops for loss, six passes broken up, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Pensacola, Fla., resident tied for fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in both tackles and fumbles forced per game, and was among the top 20 in both passes defended and tackles for loss per contest to earn second-team all-league honors in his first season as a starter.
Reaves was selected the Sun Belt Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 21 after leading the Jags with a team-best 10 total stops — with one for loss — and a pass broken up in a 34-27 overtime victory at eventual Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State, while he was named the league's Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week Nov. 16 after blocking an extra-point attempt and intercepting a two-point conversion in a seven-point win over Louisiana-Lafayette; in that contest Reaves also collected a team-best nine tackles, broke up two passes and a forced fumble as well. He finished with a career-high 11 stops in the regular-season finale against Appalachian State to lead USA in the category, while recording 10 tackles at Nebraska and against North Carolina State to pace South in the match-up with the Wolfpack.
He has been named preseason first-team all-Sun Belt by both Athlon Sports and ESPN The Magazine.
The Jim Thorpe Award was established in 1986 and is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled not only as a running back, passer, and kicker on the offensive side of the ball; but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The Thorpe Award Winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 8, on ESPN. The Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Oklahoma.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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