Buffs DB Awuzie Named To Thorpe Award Watch List
July 11, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU senior adds to preseason accolades
BOULDER — Preseason recognition continues to grow for standout Colorado senior cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who was named Monday to the national watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award.
The initial watch list for the Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's top defensive back, has 39 players representing 10 conferences, including 2015 winner Desmond King of Iowa. The 6-0, 205-pound Awuzie is one of six Pac-12 players on the list, the most from any conference.
Along with the Thorpe Award, Awuzie has also been named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award (awarded by the Maxwell Football Club to the nation's best defensive player) and the Nagurski Trophy (nation's best defensive player as selected by the Football Writers Association of America).
Awuzie, a second-team all-Pac-12 selection a year ago, is one of a number of Buffs to earn preseason recognition thus far. He has also been named preseason second-team all-Pac-12 by Athlon Sports, Lindy's College Football and Phil Steele's College Football, and is drawing the attention of national analysts.
ESPN college football and NFL draft analyst Todd McShay recently Tweeted "now he's one of my favorites. Plays CB like a Mike LB!"
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Didn't know much about Colorado CB Chidobe Awuzie till I popped in tape this am. Now he's one of my favorites. Plays CB like a Mike LB!
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) June 29, 2016
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Pro Football Focus writer Vinnie Ronca called Awuzie the publication's sixth-highest graded cornerback in 2015.
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Awuzie had a ridiculous 22 pressures last season on only 86 pass rush snaps. Our 6th highest graded CB in 2015 https://t.co/Cy9nEzENtn
— Vinnie Ronca (@Vinnie_Ronca) June 29, 2016
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Awuzie is one of CU's most versatile defenders, able to line up at cornerback, nickelback or safety. He played a team-high 897 defensive snaps last season and finished with 90 tackles, including a team-high 78 unassisted stops. He also recorded four quarterback sacks and had nine other tackles for loss to go with 10 pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
"I think he's probably the best secondary player in the Pac-12," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said last week.
Awuzie, MacIntyre and senior quarterback Sefo Liufau will head to Hollywood, Calif., later this week for the annual Pac-12 Media Days. Colorado players report for fall camp on Wednesday, Aug. 3, with the first practice of the fall scheduled for Aug. 4.
Colorado players have won two Thorpe awards. Deon Figures was the winner in 1992 and Chris Hudson won the honor in 1994.
Other Buffs already receiving preseason recogniton include:
PRESEASON ALL-PAC 12 CONFERENCE
CB Chidobe Awuzie (second-team: Athlon Sports, Lindy's College Football, Phil Steele's College Football)
DT Jordan Carrell (fourth-team: Phil Steele's College Football)
ILB Rick Gamboa (third-team: Lindy's College Football)
ILB Addison Gillam (fourth-team: Athlon Sports; Phil Steele's College Football)
OT Jeromy Irwin (third-team: Phil Steele's College Football)
C Alex Kelley (fourth-team: Athlon Sports)
P Alex Kinney (third-team: Athlon Sports; fourth-team: Phil Steele's College Football)
OG Tim Lynott, Jr. (third-team: Phil Steele's College Football)
OLB Derek McCartney (third-team: Athlon Sports, Lindy's College Football)
S Tedric Thompson (third-team: Athlon Sports, Phil Steele's College Football)
DT Josh Tupou (third-team: Phil Steele's College Football; fourth-team: Athlon Sports)
BUFFALOES ON NATIONAL AWARD LISTS
(WATCH LISTS/Nominations)
Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year): CB Chidobe Awuzie (one of 90 on official watch list)
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (most outstanding offensive player with ties to state of Texas): SE Sean Irwin (CU's nomination for the award)
Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player): WR Donovan Lee (one of 43 on official watch list)
Bronko Nagurski Award (defensive player of the year): CB Chidobe Awuzie (one of 88 on official watch list)
Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back): CB Chidobe Awuzie (one of 39 on official watch list)
Doak Walker (top running back): TB Phillip Lindsay (one of 77 on official watch list)
Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service): QB Sefo Liufau (one of 88 on official watch list)
NATIONAL TOP 100 PLAYER RATINGS
Cornerbacks: Chidobe Awuzie (No. 11, Phil Steele's College Football)
Inside Linebackers: Addison Gillam (No. 26, Phil Steele's College Football)
Offensive Tackles: Jeromy Irwin (No. 41, Phil Steele's College Football)
Quarterbacks: Sefo Liufau (No. 44, Athlon Sports)
Strong Safeties: Tedric Thompson (No. 17, Phil Steele's College Football)
Tight Ends: Sean Irwin (No. 38, Phil Steele's College Football)
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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