Boykin Named Semifinalists For Thorpe Award

FOOTBALL

University of Georgia senior cornerback Brandon Boykin has been named 1-of-15 semifinalists for the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award, as announced by the Jim Thorpe Association on Monday.

Given to the top defensive back in college football, the Thorpe Award is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year after being established in 1986. The presentation of the Thorpe Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards show live on Thursday, December 8th, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

With seven of the semifinalists coming from the Southeastern Conference, the SEC holds the last two winners of the award (Eric Berry, Tennessee, 2009; Patrick Peterson, LSU, 2010). Georgia has never had a Thorpe winner.

The award is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back.

Boykin, a native of Fayetteville, has started in 32 career games, including the last 16 for the Dawgs. For the year, Boykin has recorded 31 tackles and his seven pass break-ups, 5.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions are all second on the team. Boykin has also totaled two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble this year.

Like the award’s namesake Jim Thorpe, Boykin’s talent is used running the ball as well. In the 2011 season opener against No. 5 Boise State, Boykin tabbed an 80-yard rushing touchdown on his first career carry. He is the SEC active leader and fourth in conference history with 2,393 kickoff return yards (24.42 average) in his career and has returned four punts for 43 yards this year as well.

In his career, Boykin has four kickoff returns for touchdowns,including three 100 yarders making him the only player in SEC history to record three plays of 100 yards of any kind in his collegiate career.

The Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, in Oklahoma City, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Ticket and sponsorship questions should be directed to the Jim Thorpe Association at 405.427.1400.