UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown and redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. were tabbed to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, announced by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, on Monday.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually to the top defensive back in college football, based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
Ji'Ayir Brown · Sr+ · S · 5-11 · 208 · Trenton, N.J. · Trenton Central/Lackawanna College
- Has appeared in 22 career games at Penn State, making 13 starts.
- Tied for the nation's lead with six interceptions in 2021.
- His six interceptions were tied for the 10th-most in a season at PSU.
- Became the first Nittany Lion to record six interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season since Alan Zemaitis in 2005.
- Tied a Penn State bowl record with two interceptions in the Outback Bowl vs. Arkansas.
- Earned third team All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and honorable mention by the media.
- Recorded an interception as time expired to secure the win at Wisconsin to open the 2021 season.
Joey Porter, Jr. · R-Jr. · CB · 6-2 · 198 · Bakersfield, Calif. · North Allegheny (Pa.)
- Has appeared in 25 career games, making 21 starts, as a Nittany Lion.
- Named third team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media in 2021.
- Finished the 2021 season with 51 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and four pass breakups.
- Recorded first career interception against Indiana (10/2/21).
- Made a career-high nine tackles against Illinois (10/23/21).
- Selected third team All-Big Ten by the media and honorable mention by the coaches in 2020.
- Notched 33 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and four pass breakups in 2020.
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame will select 15 semifinalists in October. The three finalists will be announced in late November. The winner of the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The award is named after the great Jim Thorpe, known as an outstanding all-around athlete. While Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, he was a standout defensive back. In addition to his accomplishments on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
Penn State Football Recognized on 2022 Preseason Watch Lists
Ji'Ayir Brown: Jim Thorpe Award
Sean Clifford: Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award
Theo Johnson: Mackey Award
Keyvone Lee: Doak Walker Award
Joey Porter Jr.: Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy
Juice Scruggs: Rimington Trophy
Chris Stoll: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Brenton Strange: Mackey Award
Mitchell Tinsley: Biletnikoff Award
Parker Washington: Biletnikoff Award
For more information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new season tickets for the 2022 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
More than 5,300 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2022 campaign.