Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association release today the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. This list includes 49 of the nation's best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons may be added as the season progresses.
 
A total of five MAC student-athletes have been named to the preseason list: Buffalo’s Tyrone Hill, Ball State teammates Antonio Phillips & Amechi Uzodinma II and the Miami duo of Emmanuel Rugamba & Sterling Weatherford
 
Hill, a second-team All-MAC selection in 2019, is entering his third season as the Bulls' starting safety. He had a breakout season in 2019, ranking third on the team in tackles with 70, including three for loss. The New Jersey native led the team in pass breakups with 10.
 
Uzodinma led the MAC and ranked seventh nationally last season with five interceptions on his way to second-team All-MAC honors. 

Phillips intercepted four passes and was a first-team all-conference choice. He was named last week to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player regardless of position.
 
Rugamba earned third team All-MAC in 2019 after recording 85 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception and eight pass breakups. The senior had 11 tackles in the win over Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game, earning Defensive Player of the Game honors. He also had nine stops and his first career interception at Western Michigan.

Weatherford was second on the team with 98 tackles last year and had two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. One of those forced fumbles came on a crucial play in a win over Ohio and he added seven tackles and three pass breakups in the MAC Championship Game.
 
A preseason watch list is compiled by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame based on previous performance and preseason All-America lists. A screening committee, consisting of OSHOF members, monitor the watch list players and narrow the field to 10 to 15 semifinalists on the first Monday of November. This committee reconvenes on the Monday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
 
All three finalists are invited and required to attend The Home Depot College Football Awards Show Presented by Gildan, broadcast live on ESPN from Atlanta, Georgia, where the winner is announced.
 
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following ESPN's live presentation at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.