Oklahoma City --  University of New Mexico senior cornerback DeAndre Wright has been named to the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. A first team all-Mountain West Conference selection in 2007, Wright was selected as one of 40 of the nation’s best defensive backs as the leading candidates for this year’s trophy.

The Clinton, Md. product has started 26 straight games and recorded 19 pass break ups and seven interceptions at cornerback after moving from safety a few weeks before the 2006 season. Wright and fellow senior Glover Quin comprise one of the best cornerback tandems in the nation, leading New Mexico to a No. 20 pass defense ranking in 2007.

Wright led the team with 12 passes defended (3 interceptions, 9 break ups) last fall and allowed just six pass completions of 15 yards or more all season. He gave up just two long passes in the final 10 games as opponents grew increasingly reluctant to challenge him downfield. Wright was thrown at just 11 times in man coverage over the final seven games of 2007.

The Thorpe Award 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 outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.

 A “Screening Committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character.  The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.  

The committee meets again on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select the three finalists.  The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner.  The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, and the winner is announced during the show.

Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.

DeAndre Wright – Sr – New Mexico

Asher Allen – Jr – Georgia

Nate Allen – Jr – South Florida

Antonio Baker – Jr – Louisiana Tech

Eric Berry – So - Tennessee

David Bruton – Sr – Notre Dame

Joe Burnett – Sr – Univ. Central Florida

Jairus Byrd – Jr  – Oregon

Chris Chancellor – Jr – Clemson

Kam Chancellor – Jr – Virginia Tech

Barry Church – Jr – Toledo

Patrick Chung – Sr – Oregon

Emanuel Cook – Jr – South Carolina

Vontae Davis – Jr – Illinois

Kevin Ellison – Sr – USC

Londen Fryar – Sr – W. Michigan

Courtney Greene - Sr. – Rutgers

Michael Hamlin – Sr. – Clemson   

Nic Harris - Sr. – Oklahoma

Victor Harris – Sr – Virginia Tech

Stephen Hodge – Sr – TCU

Brandon Hughes – Sr – Oregon State

Malcolm Jenkins - Sr. - Ohio State

Rashad Johnson – Sr – Alabama

Jordan Lake – Jr - Baylor

Trevard Lindley – Jr - Kentucky

Taylor Mays  – Jr – USC       

D J Moore – Jr – Vanderbilt

Mike Mickens - Sr – Cincinnati                  

William Moore – Sr – Missouri

Captain Munnerlyn – Jr – South Carolina

Troy Nolan – Sr – Arizona State

Derek Pegues - Jr. - Mississippi State                   

Tavious Polo – So – Florida Atlantic

Myron Rolle –  Jr – Florida State

Corey Small – Sr – Florida Atlantic

Alphonso Smith – Sr – Wake Forest

DeAngelo Smith – Sr - Cincinnati

Walter Thurmond – Jr - Oregon

Chip Vaughn – Sr – Wake Forest