Today, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association released the finalists for the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. This list includes the nation’s three best defensive backs based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

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The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association released the finalists for the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Cooper DeJean (Iowa, Jr., Cornerback), Malaki Starks (Georgia, So., Safety) and Trey Taylor (Air Force, Sr., Safety) are the three defensive backs chosen as the 2023 finalists. This group of finalists represents two Power Five conferences (Big Ten, SEC) and one Group of Five conference (Mountain West).

Cooper DeJean (Iowa, Jr., Cornerback)

41 tackles (26 solo, 15 assists), 2 interceptions (41 yards), 5 passes defended (through Week 10)

Malaki Starks (Georgia, So., Safety)

43 tackles (25 solo, 18 assists), 2 interceptions (21 yards), 6 passes defended

Trey Taylor (Air Force, Sr., Safety)

71 tackles (39 solo, 32 assists, 0.5 sacks), 3 interceptions (97 yards, 51-yard long interception, 1 touchdown), 4 passes defended

The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an OSHOF in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.

PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, Dec. 8, 7–9 p.m. Eastern

Winner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards

The winner will be announced on ESPN's live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards. Other recognized NCFAA awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet

Honoring the 2023 Winner in Oklahoma City

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. 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.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD FINALISTS FAN VOTE

For the sixth consecutive year, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award will hold the official Finalists Fan Vote. Voting opens Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 11 a.m. Central and closes Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. Central. Voting is free to all participants. The winner of the fan vote will receive one vote toward the overall nationwide results.

Use the link below to be directed to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Finalists Fan Vote.

https://www.paycom.com/about/sponsorships/jim-thorpe-award/

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards, and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter at @NCFAA.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and 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. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.

Paycom Software, Inc. (“Paycom”) (NYSE: PAYC), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

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