Antwan Peek Jr. Named Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist – College of Cincinnati Athletics

CINCINNATI – Redshirt junior Antwan Peek Jr. was named certainly one of 15 semifinalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday.

Peek is certainly one of two Big 12 gamers to be named a semifinalists, becoming a member of TCU’s Jamel Johnson.

Peek has totaled 28 tackles this season in addition to two tackles for loss, one sack, two pressured fumbles, and a fumble restoration. He grades out as one of many prime safeties within the nation in accordance with Pro Football Focus, as his general grade of 90.0 ranks fourth within the nation at his place group.

Peek has stood tall throughout essential moments this season, together with forcing a fumble within the fourth quarter at Kansas that saved a landing and making a 4^th-and-1 cease at Oklahoma State that led to a UC scoring drive.

A former walk-on, Peek appeared in 11 video games final yr and made six begins. He ranked third on the group with 56 tackles and logged 4 pressured fumbles.

The listing of 15 semifinalists will probably be pared down to 3 finalists on the Sunday previous to Thanksgiving. The winner will probably be introduced on Friday, Dec. 12 throughout ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards present.

In 2021, former Bearcat Coby Bryant received the Jim Thorpe Award, turning into the second participant in program historical past to win a serious nationwide award. He joined 2000 Lou Groza Award winner Jonathan Ruffin.

2025 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Mansoor Delane, Cornerback, LSU, Sr.
Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State, Jr.
Bishop Fitzgerald, Safety, USC, Sr.
Elijah Green, Cornerback, Tulsa, So.
Colton Hood, Cornerback, Tennessee, So.
Chris Johnson, Cornerback, San Diego State, Sr.
Jamel Johnson, Safety, TCU, Jr.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety, Toledo, Sr.
Leonard Moore, Cornerback, Notre Dame, So.
Antwan Peek Jr., Safety, Cincinnati, Jr.
D’Angelo Ponds, Cornerback, Indiana, Jr.
Keionte Scott, Cornerback, Miami, Sr.
Michael Taaffe, Safety, Texas, Sr.
Avieon Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson, Jr.
Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon, Jr.

ABOUT THE JIM THORPE AWARD
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to one of the best defensive again in faculty soccer based mostly on efficiency on the sector, athletic potential and character. The award was established in 1986 and is called after historical past’s biggest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a operating again, passer and kicker on the offensive aspect of the ball, but in addition stood out as a defensive again. In addition to his legendary efficiency on the soccer area, Thorpe performed skilled baseball and received Olympic gold medals within the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of many nation’s prime collegiate sports activities honors.