Semifinalists revealed for the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame has announced the 12 finalists for the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award. The award is given annually to the best defensive back in all of college football. The 12 semifinalists represent six different conferences, although unlisted players can still become finalists for the award.

Three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award will be named on the Monday before Thanksgiving. The finalists are selected by a selection committee, which includes an in-house committee, former Jim Thorpe award winners, writers, and media across the nation.

Semifinalists for the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award

Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
Lewis Cine, Georgia
Jaylan Foster, South Carolina
Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
Matt Hankins, Iowa
Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh
Verone McKinley III, Oregon
Ja’Quan McMillian, East Carolina
Riley Moss, Iowa
Jalen Pitre, Baylor

The AAC and Big Ten each have three semifinalists for the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award. In the AAC, Cincinnati defensive backs Coby Bryant and Ahmad Gardner and East Carolina’s Ja’Quan McMillian crack the list. Gardner has 16 tackles, two interceptions, and two passes defended this season. Bryant has nine passes defended, which is fourth in the country. McMillian is second in the nation with 12 passes defended and four interceptions.

In the Big Ten, the three semifinalists are Iowa’s Matt Hankins and Riley Moss and Penn State’s Jaquan Brisker. Moss is tied for second in the nation with four interceptions, and he’s returned two for touchdowns. Hankins also ranks highly with three interceptions. Brisker has four passes defended with two interceptions, along with a fumble recovery.

The SEC has two semifinalists in Georgia’s Lewis Cine and South Carolina’s Jaylan Foster. Foster leads the nation with five interception and has also forced two fumbles along with 65 tackles. Cine has five passes defended and one interception.

The remaining semifinalists are Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, Baylor’s Jalen Pitre, Oregon’s Verone McKinley III, and Pittsburgh’s Brandon Hill. Hamilton has three interceptions on the season and is one of college football’s best safeties. Pitre has 42 tackles and two interceptions on the year. McKinley is tied for second in the country with four interceptions. Hill has one interception and 38 tackles.

The winner of the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award will be announced on December 9th.