Cisco Earns Spot on Jim Thorpe Award Watch List

OKLAHOMA CITY – Syracuse junior safety Andre Cisco has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2020 Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced on Monday, July 20. The award is presented annually to the best defensive back in college football.

Monday's watch list nod is Cisco's second in the past week and third overall. Cisco was previously announced as a preseason candidate for the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. Both awards recognize the national defensive player of the year.

Cisco is the active FBS leader with 12 career interceptions and he ranks second among current FBS players in passes defended per game (1.27). In 22 games, Cisco has 125 career tackles, 28 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to go along with his 12 picks.

In 2019, Cisco tallied 68 tackles and tied for the ACC lead with five interceptions despite missing three games due to injury. He ranked fourth nationally in interceptions per game (0.6) and was an All-ACC Second Team selection.

Thorpe Award candidates are judged by their performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award recipient is selected by the Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which includes members of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Jim Thorpe Award winners, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.

This year's winner will be selected from three finalists and announced live on ESPN at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec.10. The official presentation of the 2020 Jim Thorpe Award will take place in Oklahoma City in February of 2021.

The Jim Thorpe Award was established in 1986 and is named after history's greatest all-around athlete. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

For more information on the Jim Thorpe Award and to view the list of past recipients, visit: https://www.paycom.com/jim-thorpe-award.

Members of the Orange football team are on campus working out. Syracuse is currently set to begin the 2020 campaign on Friday, Sept. 4 at Boston College.

Season tickets for Orange football are available now online at Cuse.com/tickets or by calling 888-DOME-TIX.

Syracuse Players on 2020 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Andre Cisco
Jim Thorpe Award: Andre Cisco

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Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Andre Cisco

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