OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame has released the 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, a list that includes Georgia Southern seniors Monquavion Brinson and Kindle Vildor.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football. The award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football.

Brinson and Vildor are both preseason first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selections with Vildor being tabbed the preseason defensive player of the year.

This list includes 46 of the nation's best defensive backs, representing 10 conferences and 1 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.

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.

Watch List
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.

By Conference
AAC (3), ACC (5), BIG 10 (4), BIG 12 (4), C-USA (5), IND (1), MAC (5), MW (4), PAC-12 (4), SEC (5), SUN BELT (6)