OKLAHOMA CITY — UTSA safety Rashad Wisdom has been named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association announced on Monday.
Wisdom is one of 40 FBS players, including one of three from Conference USA, on the preseason watch list for the award, which is awarded annually to the nation's top defensive back.
This honor comes one week to the day after the Converse Judson High School product was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List. Earlier this summer, he earned a spot on Dave Campbell's Texas Football Preseason All-Texas College Team and he is a preseason first-team all-conference pick by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Wisdom garnered first-team all-conference and Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors in the secondary as a sophomore last fall. He led UTSA with 95 total tackles and a league-best four interceptions, which tied the program's single-season record. He recorded a team-best 60 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles and a pass breakup on the year.
Wisdom was voted Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week and C-USA Defensive Player of the Week after posting nine tackles and causing two fumbles in the 52-21 win over UTEP. He opened the campaign by registering 10 tackles and returning an interception 81 yards for a touchdown for his second career pick-six, which is tied atop the program's all-time list, in the 51-48 double-overtime victory against Texas State.
A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors the watch list players and narrows the field to 10 to 15 semifinalists in October. This committee reconvenes on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
The winner will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Other recognized National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Award.
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following ESPN's live presentation at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.
For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit oklahomasportshalloffame.org.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.
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