Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association Proudly Reveal the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award 2026 Semifinalists

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association today released the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists. This list includes 15 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing six conferences and one independent university. The semifinalists are selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 15 players based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. This list is not final, and unlisted players who continually have outstanding performances as the season progresses may be recognized as one of the three finalists.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award’s 2026 semifinalist candidates are revealed alphabetically by last name with university, position and class year noted.

2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists

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	Gr. Senior
Jaylen McClain	Ohio State	Safety	Junior
Leonard Moore	Notre Dame	Cornerback	Junior
Brice Pollock	Texas Tech	Cornerback	Senior

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will reconvene on the Sunday before Thanksgiving to select three award finalists. The award finalists will be announced as part of a special presentation Nov. 24 by ESPN.

The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.

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.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA and Instagram at @TheNCFAA.

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Important Dates

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. Other recognized NCFAA awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Biletnikoff Award, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Outland Trophy, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.

Tue., Feb. 9, 2027: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet honoring the 2026 Winner in Oklahoma City

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) (“Paycom”), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”