The 2026 Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list was released on Wednesday morning, revealing 35 players currently being monitored for the nation’s top honor for defensive backs.
The award, presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, will be given to one of 3 finalists during The Home Depot College Football Awards, which will be broadcast on ESPN on December 11.
The 35-player watch list will be narrowed to 10-15 semifinalists “near the mid-season,” according to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame website.
In total. 6 SEC stars cracked the list from 4 separate league programs. Alabama and Georgia each landed 2 players on the list, while Mississippi State and Texas are represented by one defensive back. Here’s a look at each SEC star up for the award as of August 12:
- Zabien Brown, Alabama
- Bray Hubbard, Alabama
- Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
- KJ Bolden, Georgia
- Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
- Jelani McDonald, Texas
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The 2026 college football season kicks off in just a few weeks with Week 0, which includes games like UNC vs. TCU and NC State at Virginia. Those who like G6 football should also enjoy Memphis at UNLV.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
