July 28, 2004
Texas A&M junior Jaxson Appel (Friendswood, Texas) has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award 2004 preseason "Watch List" composed of leading candidates for the prestigious award. The award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate defensive back.
"Jaxson is a young man who takes a great deal of pride in playing football and gives total effort," Aggie head coach Dennis Franchione said. "I am pleased for Jaxson and I know he is working hard to prepare for the upcoming season."
Appel was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last year as he led the Aggies in tackles with 135 stops and led the way with four interceptions. The 135 tackles established a record for Aggie defensive backs. He was named the squad?s defensive MVP in a vote among his teammates and was also named a permanent captain for the 2003 season. He has served on the Leadership Council in 2003 and again in 2004. In a nationally televised game against Virginia Tech last fall, Appel made 18 tackles. He did not have a single game with less than seven tackles in 2003.
The list of candidates will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists the first week of November and three finalists will be named the Monday prior to Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on ESPN?s College Football Awards Show, telecast from Disney World on December 9. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on February 8.
The watch list is not final and players who have exceptional seasons may be added at a later date.
JIM THORPE AWARD 2004 PRE-SEASON "WATCH LIST" Appel, Jaxson, Jr., Texas A&M Atogwe, Oshiomoghe, Sr., Stanford Bing, Darnell, So., USC Brimmer, Jamal, Sr., UNLV Browner, Brandon, So., Oregon St. Bullocks, Josh, Jr., Nebraska Butler, James, Sr., Georgia Tech Davis, Thomas, Jr., Georgia Fox, Dustin, Sr., Ohio St. Francisco, Aaron, Sr., BYU Jones, Adam, Jr., West Virginia Jackson, Marlin, Sr., Michigan King, Eric, Sr., Wake Forest Leonhard, Jim, Sr., Wisconsin McClesky, Donnie, Jr., California Maddox, Andre, Sr., North Carolina St. Meeuwsen, Mitch, Sr., Oregon St. Miller, Justin, Jr., Clemson Nicholson, Donte, Sr., Oklahoma Perkins, Antonio, Sr., Oklahoma Pool, Brodney, Jr., Oklahoma Rolle, Antrel, Sr., Miami Rogers, Carlos, Sr., Auburn Shazor, Ernest, Sr., Michigan Walker, Mark, Sr., TCU Webster, Corey, Sr., LSU Williams, Darrent, Sr., Oklahoma St. Williams, Jimmy, Jr., Virginia Tech Zemaitis, Alan, Jr., Penn St.