Josh Hawkins Named Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist
October 27, 2014 | Football
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - East Carolina junior Josh Hawkins has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2014 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday morning.
Hawkins, who has started all seven games at cornerback, owns four of ECU's seven interceptions and currently ranks first nationally in passes defended per game with 2.0 (10 pass breakups, four picks).
The Winston-Salem, N.C. native has picked off passes against South Carolina, Virginia Tech (two) and USF - all on the road. His two pass thefts against the Hokies earned him Jim Thorpe Defensive Back-of-the-Week, American Athletic Conference and College Sports Madness National Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors.
Hawkins, who has six career interceptions and 17 pass breakups, has tallied 28 tackles (21 solo) on the season with 1.5 TFLs. He has been a key member on East Carolina's defensive unit that has held five of seven opponents to less than 100 yards rushing (NCCU/70, VT/91, SMU/51, USF/93 and UConn/84), while helping the Pirates to three fourth quarter shutouts in American Conference play.
East Carolina (6-1, 3-0 American) will return to action this Saturday, Nov. 1 when it travels to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on Temple (4-3, 2-2 American) at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 12 noon (EDT) and will be nationally televised on ESPNews.
The Thorpe Award is named after the history's greatest athlete, Jim Thorpe, and is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City. Thorpe excelled at every sport in which he competed, including football at which he played on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The three Thorpe Award finalists will be named on Monday, November 24th and the winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11th airing on ESPN. The winner of the 2014 Thorpe Award will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on February 3, 2015.
THORPHE AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Sam Carter, TCU, Sr.
Jeremy Cash, Duke, Jr.
Landon Collins, Alabama, Jr.
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon, Sr.
Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, So.
Senquez Golson, Ole Miss, Sr.
Josh Hawkins, East Carolina, Jr.
Gerod Holliman, Louisville, Jr.
Ronald Martin, LSU, Sr.
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, Sr.
Jordan Richards, Stanford, Sr.
Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma, So.
Triston Wade, UTSA, Sr.
Trae Waynes, Michigan State, Jr.
PJ Williams, Florida State, Jr.
