BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Patrick Peterson has been named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in college football, the screening committee for the award announced on Tuesday.
Peterson, a junior cornerback from Pompano Beach, Fla., is one of two players from the Southeastern Conference who made the list, joining Alabama’s Mark Barron.
Peterson, who also leads the SEC in punt returns and ranks second in the league in kickoff returns, has started all eight games at cornerback for the Tigers with 20 tackles, two interceptions, one quarterback hurry and a blocked field goal.
As a unit, Peterson helps lead an LSU defense that currently ranks first in the SEC in total yards allowed (277.6) and passing yards allowed (128.1). LSU has only given up six passing touchdowns this year, tied for third nationally behind only Ohio State and Miami (Fla.), who have allowed just four.
The 2010 award marks the 25th presentation of the trophy, first won in 1986 by Baylor’s Thomas Everett. Last year’s winner was the University of Tennessee’s Eric Berry, now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
2010 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists:
Prince Amukamara, Sr., Nebraska
Tejay Johnson, Sr., TCU
Mark Barron, Jr., Alabama
Joe Lefeged, Sr., Rutgers
Chimdi Chekwa, Sr., Ohio State
Rahim Moore, Jr., UCLA
Brandon Harris, Jr., Miami (FL)
Patrick Peterson, Jr., LSU
Cliff Harris, Soph., Oregon
Tyler Sash, Jr., Iowa