OKLAHOMA CITY — Oregon football’s Jabbar Muhammad earned more preseason accolades on Wednesday as the senior defensive back was named to the watch list for the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s best defensive back.
Muhammad is one of 42 defensive backs on the preseason watch list, and one of seven from the Big Ten. On Tuesday, Muhammad was one of two Ducks – along with inside linebacker Jeffrey Bassa – named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player in the country.
A DeSoto, Texas, native in his fifth season of college football, Muhammad joined the Ducks this offseason after earning second-team all-conference honors last year with Washington. Muhammad started all 15 games for the Huskies, finishing with 46 tackles, three interceptions, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and 19 passes defended. He tied for second nationally in passes defended while ranking third with 16 pass breakups, leading the conference in both categories. The DeSoto, Texas, native had three pass breakups in the CFP Semifinal against Texas before adding two tackles and a pass breakup in the national championship game vs. Michigan. Muhammad and the Ducks open fall camp on Wednesday afternoon, exactly one month before kicking off their inaugural season as members of the Big Ten Conference against Idaho on Aug. 31 in Autzen Stadium (4:30 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network).
