Jim Thorpe Award Taps Jones For Preseason Watch List
August 12, 2026 | Football
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State cornerback Kelley Jones has been named to the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Wednesday.
The prestigious honor recognizes the nation’s top defensive backs based on performance on the field, athletic ability, and character. Jones, a senior entering the 2026 campaign, headlines the Bulldogs' secondary following an All-SEC season in 2025. In addition to the Thorpe Award preseason list, Jones was also named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List and has earned preseason All-America honors from Pro Football Network (Second Team) and On3 (First Team).
The preseason watch list features 35 of the nation's premier defensive backs representing ten conferences and one independent university. Selected by a committee based on previous NCAA Division I performance and preseason All-America lists, the group is not final, as players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalist and finalist lists later this year.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, established in 1986 and named after legendary athlete Jim Thorpe, is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Following the preseason announcement, a screening committee will monitor performance throughout the season, with semifinalists to be named on October 27 and finalists on November 24. The winner will be announced December 11 on ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards.
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