Lewis Named Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
10/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 26, 2015
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis of the 15th-ranked University of Michigan football team was named as one of 16 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on Monday (Oct. 26). The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Lewis is the program's first Thorpe Award semifinalist since Leon Hall earned the distinction in 2006. His career pass breakups (24) and interceptions (four) are first among active Wolverines, and his 16 PBUs this season are just two shy of the single-season record (18) shared by Hall (2006) and Marlin Jackson (2002).
The Detroit, Michigan, native has played a pivotal role in the Maize and Blue defense ranking first or second nationally in five defensive categories, including leading the nation in pass efficiency defense and third-down conversion percentage.
Lewis' 2.3 pass breakups per contest leads the nation, and he has added 24 tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss so far this year. Ten of his 16 pass breakups have come in conference play, and the Chuck Bednarik Award recently added him to its watch list for his strong play in the U-M secondary.
Lewis received Jim Thorpe Player of the Week honors earlier this month (Oct. 14), after his 37-yard pick-six helped the Maize and Blue to a third consecutive shutout in a 38-0 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats. The touchdown was the first of Lewis' career, and he also earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week distinction that week (Oct. 12).
Lewis joins Ohio State's Vonn Bell and Iowa's Desmond King as representatives of the Big Ten conference on the Thorpe Award watch list.
The winner of the Jim Thorpe Award will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, on ESPN. Finalists for the award will be announced on either Nov. 23 or 24, depending on the NCFAA release schedule. The winner will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on Feb. 2, 2016.
The 2015 Thorpe Award semifinalists represent eight conferences: SEC (4), ACC (3), Big Ten (3), Big 12 (2), AAC (1), MAC (1), MWC (1), Pac-12 (1).
THORPE AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Mackensie Alexander, Clemson, So.
Vonn Bell, Ohio State, Jr.
Jeremy Cash, Duke, Sr.
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, Jr.
Mike Hilton, Mississippi, Sr.
Eddie Jackson, Alabama, Jr.
Desmond King, Iowa, Jr.
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan, Jr.
Shawun Lurry, N. Illinois, So.
Adrian McDonald, Houston, Sr.
Kevin Peterson, Oklahoma St., Sr.
Jalen Ramsey, Florida State, Jr.
Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma, Jr.
Jordan Simone, Arizona St., Sr.
Darian Thompson, Boise State, Sr.
Tre'Davious White, LSU, Jr.
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
