July 25, 2007

UTEP senior safety Quintin Demps was named one of 35 preseason candidates for the Jim Thorpe Award on Wednesday. The award is presented to the nation's best college defensive back.

A San Antonio native, Demps is also on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the best defensive player in college football.

The 6-1, 215-pound Demps was a first team All-Conference USA choice in 2006 after racking up 67 tackles, seven interceptions and five pass break-ups. He tied for fifth in the country in interceptions. Demps has 12 career picks to his credit. He has started 35 games for the Miners over the last three seasons.

Not only is Demps the only Conference USA player on the Thorpe Award Watch List, he is also the only player from a Texas school on the list.

The Thorpe Award is named after history's greatest all-around athlete -- a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but was also an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as "The Legend," Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

The watch list is narrowed to 10 semifinalists the first Monday in November and three finalists the Monday before Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on Feb. 12.

The watch list is determined by analysis of the preseason All-America teams listed in at least six college football annual magazines. Demps was appointed to All-America teams in The Sporting News and Street & Smith's annuals.