OKLAHOMA SPORTS HALL OF FAME NAMES PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD 2020 SEMIFINALISTS
Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced today the 12 semifinalists for the 2020 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, awarded to the best defensive back in college football. The award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

The dozen semifinalists on this year’s list represent six conferences and are selected by a screening committee. However, this list is not final and unlisted players who have outstanding seasons may be recognized as one of the three finalists.

The award recipient is selected from the three finalists 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 three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, December 22nd, in conjunction with ESPN.

The 2020 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show Presented by Gildan, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, 7-8:30 p.m. ET, live on ESPN.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet is scheduled to be held Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Oklahoma City.
Bubba Bolden, Miami (FL), R-Junior
Jalen Catalon, Arkansas, R-Freshman
Kaiir Elam, Florida, Sophomore
Richie Grant, UCF, R-Senior
Allie Green IV, Tulsa, Senior
Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State, Senior
Brandon Joseph, Northwestern, R-First Year
Trevon Moehrig, TCU, Junior
Tykee Smith, West Virginia, Sophomore
Patrick Surtain II, Alabama, Junior
Shaun Wade, Ohio State, Graduate
James Wiggins, Cincinnati, Senior

By Conference
AAC (3), ACC (1), BIG 10 (2), BIG 12 (2), SEC (3), Sun Belt (1)

Shemar has been my favorite player all year long. He has had a season. All the hype was on Jolly but Shemar was all over the place. Good luck Shemar!

Neer86 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 07, 2020 2:28 pm

Shemar has been my favorite player all year long. He has had a season. All the hype was on Jolly but Shemar was all over the place. Good luck Shemar!

Agreed. Jolly is a good player but Jean-Charles had the better year. I expect him to get drafted and make a NFL roster.

SJC has also been my favorite. Lines up to line of scrimmage to disrupts routes at the snap

Last year Jolly was the hot commodity. He's the one our opponents tended to adjust for this season (at least initially). The problem is that on the other side Jean-Charles is a stud also so which ever side they attack, they're going to have a problem. I'm proud of the way SJC has stepped up and we are fortunate to have this tandem of CBs on our team!