.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Texas A&M Football: Justin Evans Named Jim Thorpe Semifinalist
Every year the Jim Thorpe Award is given to the top defensive back in college football. This week Justin Evans got one step closer to taking home the trophy in 2016.
A snub from the pre-season All-SEC defensive teams along with fellow safety Armani Watts, Justin Evans is continuing to receive well deserved recognition. Following a win over Auburn on the road, Evans received the SEC defensive player of the week, leading the swarming Aggie defense in tackles with 12. He has also received the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week award after Texas A&M’s opening weekend win against the UCLA Bruins.
In 2015 Evans played in 12 games for the Aggies, registering 78 tackles (47 solo). This year Evans has 52 tackles across seven games, second on the team to Shaan Washington. Three of those tackles were behind the sticks for a loss. Evans leads the Aggies in solo tackles with 37, the third most in the SEC. He has been nearly impossible to shake off in the open field.
In addition to the tackles, he has four interceptions this year along with six passes defended. His four interceptions rank first in the SEC and third in the nation. The Aggies have remaining contests against New Mexico State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas San Antonio, and LSU. All favorable match ups for the Aggie secondary with the exception of the Rebels signal caller Chad Kelly. Texas A&M does have the advantage of that game being within the friendly (and loud) confines of Kyle Field.
Here is the full list of semi-finalists.
Jaire Alexander, Louisville, So.
Budda Baker, Washington, Jr.
Travon Blanchard, Baylor, Jr.
Justin Evans, Texas A&M, Sr.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama, So.
Malik Hooker, Ohio State, So.
Adoree’ Jackson, USC, Jr.
Desmond King, Iowa, Sr.
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan, Sr.
Kai Nacua, BYU, Sr.
Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, Jr.
Weston Steelhammer, Air Force, Sr.
Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson, Sr.
Tre’Davious White, LSU, Sr.
Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech, Sr.
Andrew Wingard, Wyoming, Sr.
If Evans were to win the award he would join an impressive list of SEC alums including Eric Berry (Tennessee ’09), Patrick Peterson (LSU ’10), Morris Claiborne (LSU ’11), and Johnathan Banks (Mississippi State ’12).
No player at Texas A&M has ever received the award, while two former members of a John Chavis defense (Claiborne and Peterson) have taken home the hardware. If Evans were to win it would be a huge statement for a defensive program that was ranked near the bottom of the nation as recently as three years ago.
***Stats from Sports-Reference.com***
More from Gig Em Gazette
This article originally appeared on 
