Oklahoma State University Athletics
Sterns Named to Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
July 11, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State safety Jordan Sterns added his name to a third preseason award watch list Monday, as the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame released The Jim Thorpe Award 2016 watch list.
The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the best defensive back in college football, joins the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy in recognizing Sterns as a potential recipient this season.
Sterns has long been the leader of the Cowboy defense. With 103 tackles in 2014 and 108 in 2015, he is the first Cowboy since Keith Burns in 1992 and 1993 to post consecutive seasons with 100 tackles or more. He has started every game at safety each of the past two years and led the team in tackles both seasons. He has also been an important special teams player and is one of the vocal leaders on the squad. Sterns was directly responsible for four turnovers last year, including a game-clinching interception on Iowa State's last drive of the game to preserve a four-point win for the Cowboys in Ames.
As evidence of his place among the best defensive backs in the Big 12 and the nation, Sterns is one of just two players on the Thorpe Award watch list from the conference and one of just 39 in the country.
The Jim Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee and the list is not final, as players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses. The Thorpe Award Winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 8 on ESPN.
The Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Oklahoma.
The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the best defensive back in college football, joins the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy in recognizing Sterns as a potential recipient this season.
Sterns has long been the leader of the Cowboy defense. With 103 tackles in 2014 and 108 in 2015, he is the first Cowboy since Keith Burns in 1992 and 1993 to post consecutive seasons with 100 tackles or more. He has started every game at safety each of the past two years and led the team in tackles both seasons. He has also been an important special teams player and is one of the vocal leaders on the squad. Sterns was directly responsible for four turnovers last year, including a game-clinching interception on Iowa State's last drive of the game to preserve a four-point win for the Cowboys in Ames.
As evidence of his place among the best defensive backs in the Big 12 and the nation, Sterns is one of just two players on the Thorpe Award watch list from the conference and one of just 39 in the country.
The Jim Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee and the list is not final, as players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses. The Thorpe Award Winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 8 on ESPN.
The Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Oklahoma.
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