OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of South Alabama's Jeremy Reaves will be considered for a second national award this fall after Friday's announcement that he has been named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award 2017 watch list.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The news comes one day after the rising senior from Pensacola, Fla., was placed on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is presented by the Football Writers Association of America to college football's best defensive player.
The Paycom 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 award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 7 on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, in Oklahoma.
In addition to being named to a pair of watch lists for national awards the last two days, Reaves has also been selected preseason first-team all-Sun Belt Conference by five different publications during the offseason. He also ranks third on Lindy's listing of the top 10 National Football League prospects in the SBC heading into the 2017 campaign.
Last year he was credited with 85 total tackles, with 5½ of those behind the line of scrimmage, and seven passes broken to go along with three interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles. For his efforts, he was one of only two juniors to be voted first-team all-league. It was the second straight season that Reaves was honored, as he received second-team all-Sun Belt recognition as a sophomore after recording 96 stops including eight for a loss.
The safety will begin his final year at the collegiate level among the top five in three different statistical categories on USA's all-time record list. Reaves is tied for first with six forced fumbles, tied for second after intercepting five passes thus far in his career and he stands fifth with a total of 197 tackles.
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