Aug. 4, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - UCF sophomore cornerback Joe Burnett is one of 33 candidates for the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the top defensive back in college football each year. Burnett was one of only three sophomores named to the award's watch list.
In 2005, Burnett earned All-Conference USA First Team honors as both a defensive back and a punt returner and was the only rookie named to the first team. The Eustis, Fla. native ranked second in the league and 26th nationally in interceptions per game and had five interceptions on the year.
Following the season, Burnett was named a First-Team Freshman All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, Rivals.com and CollegeFootballNews.com.
The 2006 watch list was derived through a point system based on 10 pre-season All-America teams. The only player to be named a first team All-American on all 10 lists was Miami (Fla.) strong safety Brandon Meriweather. Other top point getters were LaRon Landry, LSU free safety; Michael Griffin, Texas strong safety; Michigan cornerback Leon Hall; and California cornerback Dameion Hughes.
The list includes four C-USA standouts.
The Thorpe Award is one of college football's most sought after and prestigious awards. It is 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 excellent 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 Dec. 7. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on February.
2006 JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST
Fred Bennett, S. Carolina Sr CB
Joe Burnett, UCF So CB
Bobby Blackshire, Tulsa Sr FS
Antoine Cason, Arizona Jr CB
Zach Cantanese, Arizona State Sr S
Marquice Cole, Northwestern Sr S
Joe Garcia, Nevada Sr CB
Josh Gattis, Wake Forest Sr FS
Nick Graham, Tulsa Sr CB
Michael Griffin, Texas Sr SS
Leon Hall, Michigan Sr CB
Marcus Hamilton, Virginia Sr CB
Daymeion Hughes, California Sr CB
David Irons, Auburn Sr CB
LaRon Landry, LSU Sr FS
Marcus McCanley, Fresno State Sr CB
Brandon Meriweather, Miami (FL) Sr SS
J.D. Nelson, Oregon Sr FS
David Overstreet, Missouri Sr FS
Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State Sr SS
Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL) So SS
Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh Jr CB
Anthony Reddick Miami (FL) Jr FS
Roderick Rogers, Wisconsin Sr FS
Reggie Smith, Oklahoma So CB
Wesley Smith, Memphis Sr FS
John Talley, Duke Sr CB
Eric Weddle, Utah Sr SS
John Wending, Wyoming Sr FS
Eric Wicks, West Virginia Sr SS
C.J. Wilson, Baylor Sr CB
Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame Jr SS