ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame released the 2018 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, and UCF's Kyle Gibson was among those honored.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football. The award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football.
Gibson was impressive in the UCF secondary in 2017, leading the Knights with four interceptions en route to First Team All-Conference honors from The American. The Tampa, Fla., native also had 64 tackles, four pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries as a junior.
The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award was established in 1986 and is named after the greatest all-around athlete in history, Jim Thorpe. As a native Oklahoman, 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 2018 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, December 6, 2018, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in Oklahoma City.
2018 Watch Lists
July 16 – Milton, Maxwell Award
July 16 – Hill, Bednarik Award
July 17 – Milton, O'Brien Award
July 20 – Johnson, Rimington Trophy
July 23 – Gibson, Thorpe Award
PURCHASE 2018 TICKETS
Season tickets are going fast for the highly anticipated 2018 campaign. Fans can purchase theirs today and learn about all their options by calling (407) 823-1000 or visiting us online at UCFKnights.com/createthefuture.