Boston College Athletics
Silva Named Thorpe Award Semi-Finalist
November 05, 2007 | Football
Nov. 5, 2007
Boston College safety Jamie Silva has been named one of 12 semi-finalists for the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top college defensive back.
Silva is BC's leading tackler (54 solos, 28 assists, 1.5 TFL, 3 pass break-ups) and is tied for seventh in the nation in interceptions with five. He recorded a career-high 18 tackles in this past weekend's game vs. Florida State, including 10 in the first half. His first-quarter sack of FSU QB Drew Weatherford was his first of the season and the third of his career and his fourth-quarter forced fumble was the first of his career.
The semi-finalist list will be narrowed on November 19 to three finalists, who will be invited to the nationally televised Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 6. The winner will be announced on the show and the official presentation will be at a formal banquet in Oklahoma City on February 12, 2007.
The 2007 award marks the 21st anniversary of the trophy, first presented in 1986 to Baylor's Thomas Everett. Last year's winner was University of Texas standout Aaron Ross, now playing for the New York Giants. Thorpe Award winners are selected for performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
In addition to Silva, the semi-finalists include Trey Brown, UCLA; Antoine Cason, Arizona; Vontae Davis, Illinois; Malcolm Jenkins, South Florida; Kenny Phillips, Miami; Reggie Smith, Oklahoma; Craig Steltz, LSU; Julius Stinson, Wyoming; Aqib Talib, Kansas, and Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame.
The Thorpe Award preseason Watch List is determined on a point system based on preseason All-Americaa teams. Other players are added to the list based on their performance during the season. Of this year's semi-finalists, Silva, Brown, Davis, Jenkins, Steltz and Stinson were not on the preseason Watch List.
