OKLAHOMA CITY — LSU cornerback Corey Webster is among the leading candidates for the 2003 Jim Thorpe Award who were announced in a preseason “watch list” released by the Jim Thorpe Association on Thursday.
Webster, who will be a senior on the 2003 LSU football team, is one of seven Southeastern Conference players named to the list.
The converted wide receiver led the SEC with seven interceptions in 2002. In 13 games, he had 36 tackles including one for a loss.
The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s best college defensive back, is one of college football’s most sought after and prestigious awards. It is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. 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.
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists the first Monday in November and then to three finalists the Monday before Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on ESPN’s College Football Awards Show, telecast from Disney World on Dec. 11. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on Feb. 9.
The watch list is derived through a point system based on All-American teams and Honorable Mentions published in at least six preseason football magazines. A candidate must be listed as high as third-team All-American in at least one publication or as a fourth team or honorable mention in at least three of these publications. This list is not final. Players not on the list who have exceptional seasons may be added at a later date.
The Jim Thorpe Award
JIM THORPE AWARD 2003 PRE-SEASON “WATCH LIST”
| NAME | SCHOOL | POS | YR |
| Ryan Aycock | Texas Tech | S | Jr. |
| Rashad Baker | Tennessee | S | Sr. |
| Jamaal Brimmer | UNLV | S | Jr. |
| Ahmad Carroll | Arkansas | C | Jr. |
| Kentrell Curry | Georgia | S | Sr. |
| Jason David | Wash. St. | C | Sr. |
| Vontez Duff | Notre Dame | C | Sr. |
| Glenn Earl | Notre Dame | S | Sr. |
| Brandon Everage | Oklahoma | S | Sr. |
| Domonique Foxworth | Maryland | C | Jr. |
| Chris Gamble | Ohio State | C | Jr. |
| Jabari Greer | Tennessee | C | Sr. |
| DeAngelo Hall | Virginia Tech | C | Jr. |
| Marlin Jackson | Michigan | C | Jr. |
| Kelly Jennings | Miami (Fla.) | C | so |
| Jim Leonhard | Wisconsin | S | Jr. |
| Keith Lewis | Oregon | S | Sr. |
| Justin Miller | Clemson | C | so |
| Medford Moorer | Colorado | S | Sr. |
| R. J. Oliver | Arizona State | C | Jr. |
| Dakari Pearson | Texas | S | Sr. |
| Etric Pruitt | So. Miss | S | Sr. |
| Keiwan Ratliff | Florida | C | Sr. |
| Dexter Reid | North Carolina | S | Jr. |
| Lawrence Richardson | Arkansas | C | Sr. |
| Antrel Rolle | Miami (Fla.) | C | Jr. |
| Bob Sanders | Iowa | S | Sr. |
| Stuart Schweigert | Purdue | S | Sr. |
| Guss Scott | Florida | S | Sr. |
| Jason Shivers | Arizona State | S | Jr. |
| Maurice Sikes | Miami (Fla.) | S | Sr. |
| Derrick Strait | Oklahoma | C | Sr. |
| Sean Taylor | Miami (Fla.) | S | Sr. |
| Nathan Vashar | Texas | C | Sr. |
| Matt Ware | UCLA | C | Jr. |
| Corey Webster | LSU | C | Sr. |
| Madieu Williams | Maryland | S | Sr. |
Previous winners:
2002 – Terence Newman, Senior , Kansas State
2001 – Roy Williams, Junior, Oklahoma
2000 – Jamar Fletcher, Junior, Wisconsin
1999 – Tyrone Carter, Senior, Minnesota
1998 – Antoine Winfield, Senior, Ohio State
1997 – Charles Woodson, Junior, Michigan
1996 – Lawrence Wright, Senior, Florida
1995 – Greg Meyers, Senior, Colorado State
1994 – Chris Hudson, Senior, Colorado
1993 – Antonio Langham, Senior, Alabama
1992 – Deon Figures, Senior, Colorado
1991 – Terrell Buckley, Junior, Florida State
1990 – Darryll Lewis, Senior, Arizona
1989 – Mark Carrier, Junior, USC
1988 – Deion Sanders, Senior, Florida State
1987 – Bennie Blades, Senior, Miami (Fla) and Rickey Dixon, Senior, Oklahoma
1986 – Thomas Everett, Senior, Baylor