Aug. 3, 2006

Conference USA has four players that have been named as preliminary candidates for the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the top defensive back in college football each season. Memphis senior Wesley Smith, UCF sophomore Joe Burnett and Tulsa teammates Bobby Blackshire and Nick Graham represent C-USA on the 33-man list.

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.

This is Smith's second straight season to be placed on the preseason watch list. Smith has been honored the last three years as a first-team selection on the All-Conference USA Team and could become just the second player in league history to earn four first team honors. He has started all 37 games in his Memphis career and enters the 2006 season with 269 career tackles, including 82 last year (48 solo).

Burnett was an All-Conference USA First Team selection as both a defensive back and punt returner in 2005 and was the only freshman named to the All-C-USA first team offense or defense. He started 12 of UCF's 13 games last season and was second in the league in interceptions and 26th nationally with 0.38 interceptions per game. Burnett picked off five passes in 2005, the second-best total in UCF single-season history.

A two-year starter at safety, Blackshire was a first-team all-league performer last season after tallying 99 tackles to place second on the Golden Hurricane. The senior-to-be also had six pass break-ups and two interceptions a year ago.

Graham, a senior cornerback, was ranked eighth nationally in interceptions last season with six pickoffs. He was a second-team all-Conference USA selection last year after recording 72 tackles (51 solo) and 12 pass breakups.

The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back, 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 awesome 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 December 7. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on February 7.

2006 JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST

Name, School	Class, Pos
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., CB
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 (Fla.), Sr., SS
J.D. Nelson, Oregon, Sr., FS
David Overstreet, Missouri, Sr., FS
Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State, Sr., SS
Kenny Phillips, Miami (Fla.), So., SS
Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh,  Jr., CB
Anthony Reddick Miami (Fla.), 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