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The race to crown college football’s best defensive back is heating up, with 15 players taking another step toward one of the sport’s most prestigious individual honors.
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced the semifinalists for the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The list features defensive backs from six conferences and one independent program, with candidates selected based on their on-field performance, athletic ability and character.
The semifinalists represent a mix of established programs and emerging defensive talent, including players from Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, Clemson, Notre Dame and Texas Tech.
Clemson, Notre Dame and Other Programs Represented
The semifinalist field includes five defensive backs from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and other conferences represented across the national landscape. Among the notable names is Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton, a junior who remains in contention for the award.
Notre Dame junior cornerback Leonard Moore also made the cut after being a finalist for the award in 2025. Texas Tech senior cornerback Brice Pollock joins the group after earning recognition for his defensive performances earlier this season.
The 15 semifinalists, listed alphabetically by last name, are:
Kaleb Beasley — Louisville, Safety, Junior
KJ Bolden — Georgia, Safety, Junior
Peyton Bowen — Oklahoma, Safety, Senior
Austin Brawley — New Mexico, Safety, Senior
Jordan Castell — Kentucky, Safety, Senior
Bryce Fitzgerald — Miami, Safety, Sophomore
Robert Fitzgerald — Northwestern, Safety, Senior
Brent Gordon Jr. — Louisiana, Cornerback, Sophomore
Ashton Hampton — Clemson, Cornerback, Junior
Ta’Shawn James — UCLA, Safety, Senior
Kingston Lopa — California, Safety, Sophomore
Jalen Mayo — Houston, Cornerback, Graduate Senior
Jaylen McClain — Ohio State, Safety, Junior
Leonard Moore — Notre Dame, Cornerback, Junior
Brice Pollock — Texas Tech, Cornerback, Senior
The semifinalist list is not necessarily the final word. The selection committee can still consider players who deliver standout performances as the season continues, even if they were not included in this round.
What the Jim Thorpe Award Recognizes
Established in 1986, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back. It is named after Jim Thorpe, the legendary multi-sport athlete who excelled in football and professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Games.
The award recognizes more than statistics alone. The selection process considers a player’s performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
For defensive backs, that can mean making game-changing interceptions, breaking up passes, limiting opposing receivers and demonstrating the instincts and versatility needed to defend at the highest level.
The semifinalist recognition places these 15 players among the leading candidates as the award enters its next stage.
When Will the Finalists and Winner Be Announced?
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will reconvene on the Sunday before Thanksgiving to select three finalists. ESPN is scheduled to announce those finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. Central time (noon Eastern).
The three finalists will then be evaluated by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee. That group includes members of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame’s in-house award committee, former award recipients, members of the National College Football Awards Association and sportswriters and college football journalists from across the country.
The winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 11, during ESPN’s live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards, scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern.
The award’s official banquet honoring the 2026 recipient is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2027, in Oklahoma City.
With the field narrowed to 15, the next several weeks will determine which defensive backs separate themselves from the competition and earn a place among the final three.
Source attribution: Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association, Oct. 27, 2026.
