Florida's Ahmad Black and Joe Haden Named to 2009 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
Friday, August 7, 2009 | Football
Florida football juniors Ahmad Black (Lakeland, Fla.) and Joe Haden (Ft. Washington, Md.) were among 31 of the nation's top defensive backs named to the 2009 Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list, announced by the Jim Thorpe Association.
The Jim Thorpe Award is one of college football's most sought after and prestigious awards, named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an outstanding defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend”, Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
As preseason candidates for the Thorpe Award, both Black and Haden helped lead the Florida defense last season en route to the 2008 FedEx BCS National Title. Black started every game at strong safety for the Orange and Blue in 2008, totaling 59 tackles and a team-leading seven interceptions. Black's seven interceptions tied for the lead nationally.
Haden has started 26 games at cornerback for the Gators, including all 14 last season. Haden's 87 tackles during the 2008 season ranked second on the team and first among defensive backs. During Florida's 49-10 win over Georgia Nov. 1, Haden tallied an 88-yard interception return, matching the fourth-longest in school history and marking the longest in the SEC for the 2008 season.
The Jim Thorpe Award watch list is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. Four points are awarded for first team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 30-40 players on the pre-season watch list. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.
A “Screening Committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.
The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists. The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner. The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, and the winner is announced during the show.
Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at a ceremony in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February.
National College Football Awards Association
The Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official Web site, www.NCFAA.org.
2009 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
Javier Arenas – SR – Alabama
Aaron Berry – SR – Pittsburgh
Eric Berry – JR – Tennessee
Ahmad Black – JR – Florida
Morgan Burnett – JR – Georgia Tech
Kendric Burey – JR – North Carolina
Crezdon Butler – SR – Clemson
Kam Chancellor –SR – Virginia Tech
Chris Chandler – SR – Clemson
Barry Church – SR – Toledo
Kurt Coleman – SR – Ohio State
Parrish Cox – SR – Oklahoma State
Ras-I Dowling – JR – Virginia
Van Eskridge – SR – East Carolina
Dominique Franks – JR – Oklahoma
Joe Haden – JR – Florida
Duke Ihenacho – SR – San Jose State
Reshad Jones – JR – Georgia
Jordan Lake – SR – Baylor
Myron Lewis – SR – Vanderbilt
Trevard Lindley – SR – Kentucky
Taylor Mays – SR – Southern California
Amari Spievey – JR – Iowa
Darrell Stuckey – SR – Kansas
Earl Thomas – SO – Texas
Syd'Quan Thompson – SR – California
Walter Thurmond – SR – Oregon
Alterraun Verner – SR – UCLA
Stephen Virgil – SR – Virginia Tech
Deunta Williams – JR – North Carolina
Kyle Wilson – SR – Boise State
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