The 2002 preseason honors rollout continued Monday with the announcement of the watch lists for the Butkus Award and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.

The Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top linebacker, had five American Athletic Conference players on its 51-man preseason watch list. Houston's Donavan Mutin, Cincinnati's Deshawn Pace and Ivan Pace, SMU's Isaac Slade-Matautia and Tulane's Dorian Williams were all named to the 2022 list.

The Jim Thorpe Award goes to the nation's top defensive back. Cincnnati's Coby Bryant won the honor in 2021, while the watch list for the 2022 honor includes UCF's Davonte Brown, Memphis' Quindell Johnson and Houston's Gervarrius Owens. 



2022 Butkus Award Watch List
(American Athletic Conference Players)
Donavan Martin, Houston
Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati
Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
Isaac Slade-Matautia, SMU
Dorian Williams, Tulane


2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
(American Athletic Conference Players)
Davonte Brown, UCF
Quindell Johnson, Memphis
Gervarrius Owens, Houston