Courtesy of Michigan Athletics
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – A pair of University of Michigan defenders – Jourdan Lewis and Jabrill Peppers – have been named semifinalists for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association of Oklahoma City. This award is given to the top defensive back in college football.
Michigan is the only school with two players among the 16 semifinalists for the award. It’s the first time that the Wolverines have had at least two players named semifinalists in the same season.
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis and linebacker/defensive back Jabrill Peppers have been leaders on the Wolverines’ top-rated defense. The duo has helped Michigan lead the nation in five defensive categories and list in the top four of 10 overall categories. U-M’s pass defense is tops in the country allowing just 111 yards through the air per contest.
The opposition has shied away from Lewis’ side of the field this season, only targeting the All-American cornerback 10 times. He has only allowed seven receiving yards on two catches through three games. Lewis has 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups in four games of action.
Peppers is all over the field for the Wolverines, lining up at 14 different positions. Defensively, he is second on the team with a career-best 40 tackles, including a team-leading 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Offensively, Peppers has carried the ball 10 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns while catching a five-yard pass against Illinois. He is third nationally in punt returns with 14 for 249 yards (17.8 avg.) and one touchdown, and returned five kickoffs for 153 yards.
The three finalists for the Thorpe Award will be named on Monday, Nov. 21. The winner of the prestigious award will be announced live on ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 8. The 2016 Thorpe Award winner will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on Feb. 7, 2017.
The second-ranked Wolverines travel to Michigan State on Saturday (Oct. 29). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at noon EDT.
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