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Talley Named To Thorpe Award Watch List
8/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. ? Duke senior cornerback John Talley has been named one of 33 candidates to the preseason Watch List for the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award, an honor presented annually to the top defensive back in the nation.
A native of Duncan, S.C., Talley enters his final campaign as the nation's active leader in interceptions with 11, tied with Utah's Eric Weddle. A two-time All-ACC choice, he was named a preseason first team All-America by The Sporting News and is one of just four returning first team all-conference defensive backs in the six BCS leagues.
In 34 career games at Duke, Talley has career totals of 141 tackles, three tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, 245 interception return yards and 25 pass breakups.
Talley and Weddle are joined on the preseason chart by Fred Bennett (South Carolina), Joe Burnett (Central Florida), Bobby Blackshire, (Tulsa), Antoine Cason (Arizona), Zach Cantanese (Arizona State), Marquice Cole (Northwestern), Joe Garcia (Nevada), Josh Gattis (Wake Forest), Nick Graham (Tulsa), Michael Griffin (Texas), Leon Hall (Michigan), Marcus Hamilton (Virginia), Daymeion Hughes (California), David Irons (Auburn), LaRon Landry (LSU), Marcus McCanley (Fresno State), Brandon Meriweather (Miami [Fla.]), J.D. Nelson (Oregon), David Overstreet (Missouri), Sabby Piscitelli (Oregon State), Kenny Phillips (Miami [Fla.]), Darrelle Revis (Pittsburgh), Anthony Reddick (Miami [Fla.]), Roderick Rogers (Wisconsin), Reggie Smith (Oklahoma), Wesley Smith (Memphis), John Wending (Wyoming), Eric Wicks (West Virginia), C.J. Wilson (Baylor) and Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame).
Michael Huff of Texas captured the 2005 Thorpe Award. Other past winners include Bennie Blades of Miami (1987), Deion Sanders of Florida State (1988), Charles Woodson of Michigan (1997) and Roy Williams of Oklahoma (2001).
The award is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend”, Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists the first Monday in November and then to three finalists the Monday before Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show, telecast from Disney World on December 7. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on February 7.
Players Mentioned
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