Eastern Michigan Athletics
Calhoun and McGill Named to Paycom Thorpe Award Watch List
7/22/2019 1:00:00 PM | Football
The duo are part of five Mid-American Conference representatives
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University football senior defensive backs Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) and Kevin McGill (Waldorf, Md.-Westlake) were named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List as announced today, July 22, by the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is one of the most coveted awards in college football. It 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 not only 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 list includes 46 of the nation's best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences and one Independent. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee who compiles a list of 30-50 players. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.
A Third Team All-MAC selection for the second time in 2018, Calhoun continued to lead the Eagles' secondary last season. His 84 stops ranked second-most on the team in 2018, while his three interceptions were tied for the most by an Eagle as well as second-most in the conference. He also tallied two tackles-for-loss, including a sack. Calhoun sealed Eastern's seventh win of the year with a fourth-quarter interception at Kent State University, Nov. 23.
Part of an experienced EMU secondary that ranked third in the league in interceptions and 33rd nationally in 2018, McGill finished last year tied for the team lead with three picks to go along with 38 tackles. His three INTs were second-most in the MAC and tied for 55th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) ranks. According to Pro Football Focus, McGill led all MAC cornerbacks in catch rate and allowed a mere 34.4 passer rating during his junior campaign. For his efforts, he was a Second Team All-MAC honoree in 2018.
The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in Oklahoma City.
The 2019 EMU football season will feature a year-long series of events, initiatives, and programming centered around fans, student-athletes, and the community. The celebration will salute the five decades of student-athletes that have played inside Rynearson Stadium as well as the more than 2.8 million fans who have passed through the turnstiles to watch one of the 252 home games in the venue. Furthermore, the College Football 150th Anniversary celebration will be recognized at all divisions of the collegiate game during the 2019 season.
Fans can now order reserved non-chairback season tickets for just $90 ($18 per game). EMU faculty and staff can secure season tickets for $70 ($14 per game), while youth season tickets are just $50 ($10 per game). In addition, EMU continues to offer the Ultimate Fan Season Ticket Plan for $150 ($30 per game). The premiere plan includes a padded chairback seat and VIP parking in the Convocation Center lots.
Buying a season ticket is your best deal as you will save 38 percent when compared to the single-game rate. Tickets are now on sale at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office.
The complete list of candidates is below...
Paulson Adebo, Stanford, So.
Trajan Bandy, Miami (FL), Jr.
Essang Bassey, Wake Forest, Sr.
Julian Blackmon, Utah, Sr.
Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, Jr.
Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern, Sr.
Jaron Bryant, Fresno State, Sr.
Myles Bryant, Washington, Sr.
Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan, Sr.
TJ Carter, Memphis. Jr.
Andre Cisco, Syracuse, So.
Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State, Jr.
Alvin Davis Jr., Akron, Sr.
Grant Delpit, LSU, Jr.
Greg Eisworth, Iowa State, Jr.
Desmond Franklin, Appalachian State, Sr.
Jordan Fuller, Ohio State, Sr.
Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame, Sr.
Jeff Gladney, TCU, Sr.
Richie Grant, UCF, Jr.
AJ Green, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Javon Hagan, Ohio, Sr.
Bryce Hall, Virginia, Sr.
Mike Hampton, USF, Jr.
Brontae Harris, UAB, Jr.
Ky'el Hemby, Southern Mississippi, Jr.
CJ Henderson, Florida, Jr.
Lavert Hill, Michigan, Sr.
Jamal Hudson, Ohio, Jr.
Juju Hughes, Fresno State, Sr.
Chris Jackson, Marshall, Sr.
Darreon Jackson, Arkansas State, Sr.
Jerry Jacobs, Arkansas State, Jr.
Jaylon Johnson, Utah, Jr.
Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan, Sr.
Xavier McKinney, Alabama, Jr.
Josh Metellus, Michigan, Sr.
JR Reed, Georgia, Sr.
Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech, Jr.
Josiah Scott, Michigan State, Jr.
Caden Sterns, Texas, So.
Josh Thomas, Appalachian State, Sr.
Tariq Thompson, San Diego State, Jr.
Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern, Sr.
James Wiggins, Cincinnati, Jr.
DJ Williams, Utah State, Sr.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is one of the most coveted awards in college football. It 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 not only 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 list includes 46 of the nation's best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences and one Independent. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee who compiles a list of 30-50 players. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.
A Third Team All-MAC selection for the second time in 2018, Calhoun continued to lead the Eagles' secondary last season. His 84 stops ranked second-most on the team in 2018, while his three interceptions were tied for the most by an Eagle as well as second-most in the conference. He also tallied two tackles-for-loss, including a sack. Calhoun sealed Eastern's seventh win of the year with a fourth-quarter interception at Kent State University, Nov. 23.
Part of an experienced EMU secondary that ranked third in the league in interceptions and 33rd nationally in 2018, McGill finished last year tied for the team lead with three picks to go along with 38 tackles. His three INTs were second-most in the MAC and tied for 55th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) ranks. According to Pro Football Focus, McGill led all MAC cornerbacks in catch rate and allowed a mere 34.4 passer rating during his junior campaign. For his efforts, he was a Second Team All-MAC honoree in 2018.
The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in Oklahoma City.
The 2019 EMU football season will feature a year-long series of events, initiatives, and programming centered around fans, student-athletes, and the community. The celebration will salute the five decades of student-athletes that have played inside Rynearson Stadium as well as the more than 2.8 million fans who have passed through the turnstiles to watch one of the 252 home games in the venue. Furthermore, the College Football 150th Anniversary celebration will be recognized at all divisions of the collegiate game during the 2019 season.
Fans can now order reserved non-chairback season tickets for just $90 ($18 per game). EMU faculty and staff can secure season tickets for $70 ($14 per game), while youth season tickets are just $50 ($10 per game). In addition, EMU continues to offer the Ultimate Fan Season Ticket Plan for $150 ($30 per game). The premiere plan includes a padded chairback seat and VIP parking in the Convocation Center lots.
Buying a season ticket is your best deal as you will save 38 percent when compared to the single-game rate. Tickets are now on sale at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office.
The complete list of candidates is below...
Paulson Adebo, Stanford, So.
Trajan Bandy, Miami (FL), Jr.
Essang Bassey, Wake Forest, Sr.
Julian Blackmon, Utah, Sr.
Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, Jr.
Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern, Sr.
Jaron Bryant, Fresno State, Sr.
Myles Bryant, Washington, Sr.
Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan, Sr.
TJ Carter, Memphis. Jr.
Andre Cisco, Syracuse, So.
Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State, Jr.
Alvin Davis Jr., Akron, Sr.
Grant Delpit, LSU, Jr.
Greg Eisworth, Iowa State, Jr.
Desmond Franklin, Appalachian State, Sr.
Jordan Fuller, Ohio State, Sr.
Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame, Sr.
Jeff Gladney, TCU, Sr.
Richie Grant, UCF, Jr.
AJ Green, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Javon Hagan, Ohio, Sr.
Bryce Hall, Virginia, Sr.
Mike Hampton, USF, Jr.
Brontae Harris, UAB, Jr.
Ky'el Hemby, Southern Mississippi, Jr.
CJ Henderson, Florida, Jr.
Lavert Hill, Michigan, Sr.
Jamal Hudson, Ohio, Jr.
Juju Hughes, Fresno State, Sr.
Chris Jackson, Marshall, Sr.
Darreon Jackson, Arkansas State, Sr.
Jerry Jacobs, Arkansas State, Jr.
Jaylon Johnson, Utah, Jr.
Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan, Sr.
Xavier McKinney, Alabama, Jr.
Josh Metellus, Michigan, Sr.
JR Reed, Georgia, Sr.
Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech, Jr.
Josiah Scott, Michigan State, Jr.
Caden Sterns, Texas, So.
Josh Thomas, Appalachian State, Sr.
Tariq Thompson, San Diego State, Jr.
Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern, Sr.
James Wiggins, Cincinnati, Jr.
DJ Williams, Utah State, Sr.
Players Mentioned
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