PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Four American Athletic Conference football players have been named to the preseason watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the top defensive back in college football.
 
The American players on the watch list were Cincinnati safety Zach Edwards, UConn cornerback Jamar Summers, USF cornerback Deatrick Nichols and Temple cornerback Sean Chandler.
 
Edwards earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2015 after he finished as Cincinnati’s second-leading tackler. He had 94 total tackles to go with three interceptions and a forced fumble and enters the 2016 season as Cincinnati’s active career leader in tackles (288) and interceptions (seven).
 
Summers was named to the American Athletic Conference first team in 2015 after he led the conference with eight interceptions. He led a UConn unit that led The American in scoring defense (19.5 ppg) and was second in pass efficiency defense (112.70).
 
Nichols was a first-team all-conference pick for USF last season. He registered 62 tackles to go with four interceptions, two forced fumbles, 8.5 tackles for loss and nine passes defended to help the Bulls win seven of their last nine games in 2015.
 
Chandler earned second-team all-conference honors in 2015 after he finished as Temple’s third-leading tackler with 65 stops. He added four interceptions and had 14 passes defended and led The American in punt returns, averaging 12.1 yards per attempt.
 
 
 

Jim Thorpe Watch List (Top Defensive Back)
Zach Edwards	S	Cincinati
Jamar Summers	CB	UConn
Sean Chandler	CB	Temple
Deatrick Nichols	CB	USF