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Phillips, Uzodinma Named to Thorpe Award Watch List
July 20, 2020 | Football
Cardinals cornerback duo listed among nation’s top defensive backs
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State's returning starters at cornerback, who combined for the most interceptions of any duo in the MAC last season, are both up for the award honoring the nation's top defensive back in 2020.
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Antonio Phillips and Amechi Uzodinma II were named to the preseason watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. The Cardinals were one of 10 teams in the country to have more than one representative on the 49-player list announced Monday.
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Uzodinma, a junior from Orlando, Florida, led the MAC and ranked seventh nationally last season with five interceptions on his way to second-team all-conference honors.Â
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Phillips, a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, intercepted four passes and was a first-team All-MAC choice. He was named last week to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player regardless of position.
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As a team, Ball State led the MAC last season with 24 takeaways, including 15 interceptions. The Cardinals return seven defensive starters in 2020.
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The Thorpe Award, established in 1986, is named in honor of the legendary Jim Thorpe, an All-American at Carlisle, an Olympic track and field star, a three-sport professional athlete and a member of the inaugural induction classes of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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The watch list, compiled by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, will be narrowed to 10-15 semifinalists on the first Monday of November and three finalists on the Monday before Thanksgiving. A national panel of more than 250 sportswriters, sportscasters, former players and coaches vote to determine the winner who will be revealed as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10. Last year's recipient was Grant Delpit of LSU.
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Ball State returns 16 total starters this fall from a 2019 team that contended late into the season for a MAC West Division title and won key rivalry games over Northern Illinois and league champion Miami. Click here for information on football tickets for the upcoming season.
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For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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Antonio Phillips and Amechi Uzodinma II were named to the preseason watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. The Cardinals were one of 10 teams in the country to have more than one representative on the 49-player list announced Monday.
Â
Uzodinma, a junior from Orlando, Florida, led the MAC and ranked seventh nationally last season with five interceptions on his way to second-team all-conference honors.Â
Â
Phillips, a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, intercepted four passes and was a first-team All-MAC choice. He was named last week to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player regardless of position.
Â
As a team, Ball State led the MAC last season with 24 takeaways, including 15 interceptions. The Cardinals return seven defensive starters in 2020.
Â
The Thorpe Award, established in 1986, is named in honor of the legendary Jim Thorpe, an All-American at Carlisle, an Olympic track and field star, a three-sport professional athlete and a member of the inaugural induction classes of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Â
The watch list, compiled by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, will be narrowed to 10-15 semifinalists on the first Monday of November and three finalists on the Monday before Thanksgiving. A national panel of more than 250 sportswriters, sportscasters, former players and coaches vote to determine the winner who will be revealed as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10. Last year's recipient was Grant Delpit of LSU.
Â
Ball State returns 16 total starters this fall from a 2019 team that contended late into the season for a MAC West Division title and won key rivalry games over Northern Illinois and league champion Miami. Click here for information on football tickets for the upcoming season.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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Players Mentioned
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