Bryant, Hughes named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Fresno State senior defensive backs Jaron Bryant and Juju Hughes were both named to the preseason watch list for the 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced on Monday. The award annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football.

Bryant, a cornerback, and Hughes, a strong safety, are one of eight defensive back duos in the nation to represent its respective team on the Thorpe watch list.

This list includes five other Group of Five teams – Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Southern and Ohio – along with two Power 5 programs, Michigan and Utah. In total, 46 individuals from 38 teams were named to the Thorpe watch list.

For the complete list, visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

A glance at Bryant:

Named an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection in 2018.
Logged 12 pass breakups for Fresno State, second-most on the team in 2018.
Recorded one interception, which was returned 39 yards to the 5-yard line on Nov. 3, 2018 against UNLV.
Posted 50 tackles in 2018, 43 of which were solo stops.
Became the first player in NCAA history to return two blocked field goals for touchdowns in the same quarter in the Bulldogs' season opener – was named MW special teams player of the week (Sept. 3).

A glance at Hughes:

Named an All-Mountain West second team selection in 2018.
Recorded four interceptions in 2018, tying for the Mountain West lead.
Tied for the fifth-most passes defended in the MW with 12 in 2018.
Made 78 tackles in 2018.
Started 14 of 14 games in 2018 – has started 28 consecutive games.
Enters 2019 with Fresno State's most game experience having played in 40 career games.

Flashback
The last Bulldog to have a spot on the Thorpe preseason watch list was Derron Smith in the summer of 2014. The duo of Smith and L.J. Jones were the last pair on the watch list, similar to Bryant and Hughes, in 2013. The best finish a Bulldog has seen is Phillip Thomas, who was a finalist and invited to the College Football Awards show in 2012.

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
The award recipient is selected 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 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in Oklahoma City.

The following is the entire 2019 preseason watch list calendar:

Monday, July 15: Bednarik Award & Maxwell Award
Tuesday, July 16: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 17: Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 18: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 19: Mackey Award & Rimington Award
Monday, July 22: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 23: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 24: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 25: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 26: Walter Camp Award

The 2019 season opens in Bulldog Stadium in 47 days, grab your tickets today:

Season tickets, starting as low as $99 - link
4-game mini plan (Minnesota plus 3 games) - link
3-game mini plan - link
Group ticket discounts and tailgate space - link
$79 Bulldog Pass for faculty, staff and young alumni - link
Mad Duck 10-Pack - link
Minnesota single game tickets on sale now - link

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.

Fresno State Athletics

Bryant, Hughes named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list

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