Josh Barrett named to Thorpe Award list

Arizona State University safety Josh Barrett has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, the award given to the nation's best defensive back. The initial watch list of 35 student-athletes will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists on November 5th. Three finalists will be announced on November 19th, and the winner will be named on December 6th.

Barrett, a senior out of Reno, Nev., led the team in tackles (82) and interceptions (3) as a starter in all 13 games last season. He earned All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors in 2006 and has already been named to the Lott Trophy, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy watch lists for 2007.

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 Jim Thorpe Award "watch list" is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. Four points are awarded for First Team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for fourth teams and honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 40 players on the pre-season watch list. This list is not final and players who have good seasons are added as the season progresses.