CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive back Xavier Scott has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and the Jim Thorpe Association announced Tuesday. Scott is one of 15 players in the running for the award honoring the nation's best defensive back.
Scott has been one of the nation's best throughout the season, helping Illinois to a 6-2 record and AP Top 25 ranking for seven straight weeks. He is tied for third in the Big Ten in interceptions (3), while also totaling 29 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
Scott is rated highly by PFF, grading as the #4 corner in the Big Ten and #19 in Power-4 (80.9). He is the #1-graded tackler among Power-4 cornerbacks and #2 nationally, according to PFF (90.9).
Scott is one of four Big Ten defensive backs on the list, along with Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Will Johnson (Michigan), and Jabbar Muhammad (Oregon). In 2022, Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon was a finalist for the Thorpe Award.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award 2024 Semifinalists
Jahdae Barron, Texas, Sr.
Jalen Catalon, UNLV, Sr.
Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, So.
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, Jr.
Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.
Will Johnson, Michigan, Jr.
Rayuan Lane III, Navy, Sr.
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, So.
Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon, Sr.
Xavier Scott, Illinois, Jr.
Terrence Spence, James Madison, Sr.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr.
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, Gr. Sr.
Nohl Williams, California, Sr.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will reconvene on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The award finalists will be announced as part of a special presentation by ESPN on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA, and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.
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. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
Scott has been one of the nation's best throughout the season, helping Illinois to a 6-2 record and AP Top 25 ranking for seven straight weeks. He is tied for third in the Big Ten in interceptions (3), while also totaling 29 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
Scott is rated highly by PFF, grading as the #4 corner in the Big Ten and #19 in Power-4 (80.9). He is the #1-graded tackler among Power-4 cornerbacks and #2 nationally, according to PFF (90.9).
Scott is one of four Big Ten defensive backs on the list, along with Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Will Johnson (Michigan), and Jabbar Muhammad (Oregon). In 2022, Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon was a finalist for the Thorpe Award.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award 2024 Semifinalists
Jahdae Barron, Texas, Sr.
Jalen Catalon, UNLV, Sr.
Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, So.
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, Jr.
Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.
Will Johnson, Michigan, Jr.
Rayuan Lane III, Navy, Sr.
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, So.
Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon, Sr.
Xavier Scott, Illinois, Jr.
Terrence Spence, James Madison, Sr.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr.
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, Gr. Sr.
Nohl Williams, California, Sr.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will reconvene on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The award finalists will be announced as part of a special presentation by ESPN on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA, and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.
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. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
