Miami Hurricanes' Bryce Fitzgerald Named on Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
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MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald was named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, announced on Wednesday.
It’s annually presented to the nation’s top secondary member – recognizing performance on the field, athletic ability, and character.
The Christopher Columbus High School graduate is coming off a productive freshman season: 16 total tackles, 10 solos and six assists, a tackle for loss, a sack, two passes broken up and eight defended, and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with six interceptions. He appeared in all 16 games, four starts, and received Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America.
Fitzgerald was impactful in a reserve role behind several veterans, but as fall camp continues, the Miami native is projected as a full-time starter. In a YouTube video posted in late July on the sophomore’s channel, he revealed he added 20 pounds of muscle and hinted at a switch from safety to nickelback.
Ahead of fall camp, Fitzgerald posted on Instagram in mid-June that one of his several personal goals for the upcoming season is to win the Jim Thorpe Award. He’s already one of college football’s prolific ballhawks. After taking a backseat last year, Fitzgerald is embracing leadership responsibilities.
The Miami native has proven to shine when the lights are bright. In the first round of the College Football Playoffs against Texas A&M, Fitzgerald had two interceptions. The second pick came at the goal line with less than two minutes in the fourth quarter. It secured the Hurricanes’ first win in College Football Playoff history and eventually led to the National Championship game.
Fitzgerald's mix of added muscle and ballhawk instincts will allow him to carve out a case for the Jim Thorpe screening committee to evaluate.
Other Power Four defensive backs on the watch list:
– Georgia safety KJ Bolden (junior)
– Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown (junior)
– Indiana safety Amare Ferrell (senior)
– Oregon cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. (sophomore)
– Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton (junior)
– Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill (senior)
– Alabama safety Bray Hubbard (senior)
– TCU safety Jamel Johnson (senior)
– Mississippi State cornerback Kelly Jones (senior)
– Ohio State safety Earl Little (senior)
– Texas safety Jelani McDonald (senior)
– Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (junior)
– Syracuse cornerback Chris Peal (senior)
– Oregon safety Koi Perich (junior)
– Texas Tech cornerback Brice Pollock (senior)
– Georgia cornerback Ellis Robinson IV (sophomore)
– BYU safety Faletau Satuala (junior)
Fitzgerald will face steep competition for the award, but the opportunities to surpass them will present themselves. He’s received other preseason honors:
– ACC Preseason All-ACC team (S)
– Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List
– Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
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