University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics
Pitt’s Paris Ford Selected to Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
7/20/2020 1:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—The preseason accolades continue to roll in for Pitt junior safety Paris Ford, who was named to the 2020 watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award annually presented to college football's top defensive back, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Monday.
Ford, who previously earned selection to the Bednarik Award watch list as a candidate for the nation's most outstanding defensive player, was one of six ACC defensive backs named to the Thorpe Award watch list this season.
Touted as a preseason All-American ahead of the 2020 college football campaign by several reputable outlets, including Sporting News, Phil Steele and Athlon, Ford returns for the Panthers after establishing himself as one of the sport's rising stars in 2019.
The Pittsburgh native finished last season with team-high totals in tackles (97) and interceptions (3), while ranking second in passes breakups (11) and forced fumbles (3). His dynamic defensive back play resulted in Ford earning first-team All-ACC honors and third-team All-America selection by Phil Steele.
Thanks to his devastating combination of physicality and ball skills, Ford was also recently chosen as the ACC's top returning safety for the 2020 season by ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain.
Here is a running list of Pitt football players who have been named to national preseason watch lists:
Paris Ford • DB • JR* • #12
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Patrick Jones II • DE • SR* • #91
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Character + Defensive Performance)
Lucas Krull • TE • SR* • #7
Mackey Award (Best Tight End)
Jimmy Morrissey • OL • SR* • #67
Campbell Trophy (Academics + Performance)
Jaylen Twyman • DL • JR* • #97
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
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Ford, who previously earned selection to the Bednarik Award watch list as a candidate for the nation's most outstanding defensive player, was one of six ACC defensive backs named to the Thorpe Award watch list this season.
Touted as a preseason All-American ahead of the 2020 college football campaign by several reputable outlets, including Sporting News, Phil Steele and Athlon, Ford returns for the Panthers after establishing himself as one of the sport's rising stars in 2019.
The Pittsburgh native finished last season with team-high totals in tackles (97) and interceptions (3), while ranking second in passes breakups (11) and forced fumbles (3). His dynamic defensive back play resulted in Ford earning first-team All-ACC honors and third-team All-America selection by Phil Steele.
Thanks to his devastating combination of physicality and ball skills, Ford was also recently chosen as the ACC's top returning safety for the 2020 season by ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain.
Here is a running list of Pitt football players who have been named to national preseason watch lists:
Paris Ford • DB • JR* • #12
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Patrick Jones II • DE • SR* • #91
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Character + Defensive Performance)
Lucas Krull • TE • SR* • #7
Mackey Award (Best Tight End)
Jimmy Morrissey • OL • SR* • #67
Campbell Trophy (Academics + Performance)
Jaylen Twyman • DL • JR* • #97
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
DB
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DL
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TE
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OL
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DL
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