OKLAHOMA CITY – Four Conference USA football student-athletes were tabbed to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, announced Wednesday by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association. The list includes 35 individuals up for consideration for the best defensive back in college football.
The contingent of CUSA players includes Delaware’s
KT Seay, FIU’s
Shamir Sterlin and Jax State’s
Tre’Quon Fegans and
Caleb Nix. CUSA trails only the Big Ten and SEC for most honorees, and Jax State joins Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Tulsa with multiple selections to the preseason watch list.
Seay earned Conference USA All-Conference First Team honors after appearing and starting in all 13 games. He recorded 91 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Seay also earned All-ECAC and Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team recognition.
Sterlin appeared in 12 games in 2025 and finished fourth on the team with 65 tackles, adding 2.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. He earned CUSA Freshman of the Week honors after a seven-tackle, one-interception performance against Florida Atlantic and was named to the All-CUSA Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-CUSA.
Fegans appeared in 12 games last season and established himself as one of the conference’s top defensive backs, totaling 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and nine pass breakups on the season. According to PFF, he was targeted 39 times while allowing just 14 receptions and one touchdown.
Nix played in all 14 games last year, tying for third on the team with 64 tackles and adding four tackles for loss, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He set a school record with 191 interception return yards and earned CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors twice, including after a 93-yard interception return touchdown versus UTEP.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Important Dates
Wed., Aug. 12: Preseason watch list announced at 11 a.m. CDT/noon EDT
Tue., Oct. 27: Semifinalists announced at 11 a.m. CDT/noon EDT
A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors all defensive backs throughout the season, including watch list players, and narrows the field to up to 15 semifinalists.
Tue., Nov. 24: Finalists announced at 11 a.m. CST/noon EST
The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Fri., Dec. 11: Winner announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards
The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. EST.
Tue., Feb. 9, 2027: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet honoring the 2026 Winner in Oklahoma City