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July 7, 2008

WACO, Texas - Baylor junior Jordan Lake is one of 40 student-athletes included on the preseason "watch list" for the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back.

A consensus second-team All-Big 12 honoree as a sophomore in 2007, Lake has been tabbed an honorable mention All-America by the Sporting News preseason publication as well as receiving first-team preseason All-Big 12 recognition by Lindy's and Sporting News.

Lake missed spring practice while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, but is working out with the team and is expected to be full-speed when fall camp opens in August.

Lake registered six double-digit tackle games a year ago and finished the season with 120 total tackles, the most by a Baylor player since 2003. He ranked third in the Big 12 (No. 1 among defensive backs) and 30th nationally with 10.0 tackles per game last season.

The Jim Thorpe Award "watch list" is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines. The 40-man list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.

On November 3 a screening committee meets to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semifinalists. Three finalists are selected Nov. 24. The names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner. The three finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, where the winner is announced.

Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.

The Thorpe Award is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as "The Legend." Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

2008 THORPE AWARD "WATCH LIST"
Asher Allen - Jr - Georgia
Nate Allen - Jr - South Florida
Antonio Baker - Jr - Louisiana Tech
Eric Berry - So - Tennessee
David Bruton - Sr - Notre Dame
Joe Burnett - Sr - Univ. Central Florida
Jairus Byrd - Jr - Oregon
Chris Chancellor - Jr - Clemson
Kam Chancellor - Jr - Virginia Tech
Barry Church - Jr - Toledo
Patrick Chung - Sr - Oregon
Emanuel Cook - Jr - South Carolina
Vontae Davis - Jr - Illinois
Kevin Ellison - Sr - USC
Londen Fryar - Sr - W. Michigan
Courtney Greene - Sr. - Rutgers
Michael Hamlin - Sr. - Clemson
Nic Harris - Sr. - Oklahoma
Victor Harris - Sr - Virginia Tech
Stephen Hodge - Sr - TCU
Brandon Hughes - Sr - Oregon State
Malcolm Jenkins - Sr. - Ohio State
Rashad Johnson - Sr - Alabama
Jordan Lake - Jr - Baylor
Trevard Lindley - Jr - Kentucky
Taylor Mays - Jr - USC
D J Moore - Jr - Vanderbilt
Mike Mickens - Sr - Cincinnati
William Moore - Sr - Missouri
Captain Munnerlyn - Jr - South Carolina
Troy Nolan - Sr - Arizona State
Derek Pegues - Jr. - Mississippi State
Tavious Polo - So - Florida Atlantic
Myron Rolle - Jr - Florida State
Corey Small - Sr - Florida Atlantic
Alphonso Smith - Sr - Wake Forest
DeAngelo Smith - Sr - Cincinnati
Walter Thurmond - Jr - Oregon
Chip Vaughn - Sr - Wake Forest
DeAndre Wright - Sr - New Mexico