TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Football redshirt senior safety Jordan Simone has been named to the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday.
The Thorpe Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back, was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe.
Simone, who is from Sammamish, Wash., earned 2014 All-Pac-12 honorable mention recognition and the team’s Darren Woodson Outstanding Secondary Award this past season. He ranked second on the team with 100 tackles, including 74 solo and 4.5 for loss, and added two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He led the team in tackles in five of their 13 games this season and collected double-digit tackles in five games, including a career-high 20 tackles in ASU’s win against USC, which was the most by a Sun Devil since Mark Tingstad in 1988.
He earned a scholarship from head coach Todd Graham on Aug. 21, 2014, after he joined the team as a walk-on prior to the 2013 season. His career began at Washington State in 2011 and he took a year off before becoming a Sun Devil. He was named a team captain on May 5, 2015.
2015 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsThorpe Award (nation’s most outstanding defensive back) – Jordan Simone
Outland Trophy (nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) –Nick Kelly, Christian Westerman
Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker) – Zane GonzalezRimington Trophy (nation's top center) - Kelly
Maxwell Award (America's College Player of the Year) – Mike Bercovici, D.J. Foster
Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year) – Lloyd Carrington
The Thorpe Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive back, was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe.
Simone, who is from Sammamish, Wash., earned 2014 All-Pac-12 honorable mention recognition and the team’s Darren Woodson Outstanding Secondary Award this past season. He ranked second on the team with 100 tackles, including 74 solo and 4.5 for loss, and added two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He led the team in tackles in five of their 13 games this season and collected double-digit tackles in five games, including a career-high 20 tackles in ASU’s win against USC, which was the most by a Sun Devil since Mark Tingstad in 1988.
He earned a scholarship from head coach Todd Graham on Aug. 21, 2014, after he joined the team as a walk-on prior to the 2013 season. His career began at Washington State in 2011 and he took a year off before becoming a Sun Devil. He was named a team captain on May 5, 2015.
2015 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsThorpe Award (nation’s most outstanding defensive back) – Jordan Simone
Outland Trophy (nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) –Nick Kelly, Christian Westerman
Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker) – Zane GonzalezRimington Trophy (nation's top center) - Kelly
Maxwell Award (America's College Player of the Year) – Mike Bercovici, D.J. Foster
Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year) – Lloyd Carrington
