The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Michael Griffin named to Thorpe Award watch list
08.04.2006 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- Longhorns safety Michael Griffin has been named to the watch list for the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award, honoring the nation's top defensive back, the Jim Thorpe Association has announced.
The 2006 watch list was derived through a point system based on ten preseason All-America Teams, and Griffin was also named as one of the top five point-getters in that system. He is attempting to become Texas' second consecutive winner of the award, following Michael Huff, who in 2005 became the first Longhorn to win.
Griffin is a preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection and is already on the preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player) and Lott Trophy (nation's top defensive IMPACT player). He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as the starter at free safety in 2005 when he led the team in tackles with 124 and had four TFL, eight PBU, three INTs, three recovered fumbles, one forced fumble and four blocked punts. He highlighted the year with a 23-tackle effort at Texas A&M, matching the highest single-game tackle total since 1992 (Winfred Tubbs vs. Baylor). He has 238 tackles, three sacks, 11 TFL, four INTs, 13 PBU, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and six blocked punts (No. 1 on UT's career list) in 37 career games (15 starts).
The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back, is one of college football's most prestigious awards. It is named after one of history's great all-around athletes, a man who excelled as a running back, passer, kicker and 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.
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists the first Monday in November and then to three finalists the Monday before Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show, telecast from Disney World on December 7. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on February 7.
