Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association today released the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists. This list includes 15 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing six conferences and one independent university. The semifinalists are selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 15 players based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. This list is not final, and unlisted players who continually have outstanding performances as the season progresses may be recognized as one of the three finalists.

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Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association today released the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists.

Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association today released the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award’s 2026 semifinalist candidates are revealed alphabetically by last name with university, position and class year noted.

2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists

Kaleb Beasley

Louisville

Safety

Junior

KJ Bolden

Georgia

Safety

Junior

Peyton Bowen

Oklahoma

Safety

Senior

Austin Brawley

New Mexico

Safety

Senior

Jordan Castell

Kentucky

Safety

Senior

Bryce Fitzgerald

Miami

Safety

Sophomore

Robert Fitzgerald

Northwestern

Safety

Senior

Brent Gordon Jr.

Louisiana

Cornerback

Sophomore

Ashton Hampton

Clemson

Cornerback

Junior

Ta’Shawn James

UCLA

Safety

Senior

Kingston Lopa

California

Safety

Sophomore

Jalen Mayo

Houston

Cornerback

Gr. Senior

Jaylen McClain

Ohio State

Safety

Junior

Leonard Moore

Notre Dame

Cornerback

Junior

Brice Pollock

Texas Tech

Cornerback

Senior

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will reconvene on the Sunday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The award finalists will be announced as part of a special presentation Nov. 24 by ESPN.

The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled 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 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram at @TheNCFAA.

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Important Dates

Tue., Nov. 24: Finalists announced at 11 a.m. CST/noon EST

The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.

Fri., Dec. 11: Winner announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards

The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. EST. Other recognized NCFAA awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Biletnikoff Award, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Outland Trophy, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.

Tue., Feb. 9, 2027: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet honoring the 2026 Winner in Oklahoma City

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) (“Paycom”), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

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