T.J. McDonald named Thorpe Award semifinalist

Senior safety T.J. McDonald has been named among 15 semifinalists for the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award, awarded annually to the top defensive back in college football.

McDonald, a Thorpe Award semifinalist for the second consecutive year, has a team-high 66 tackles to go with three pass deflections, an interception and a blocked field goal.

McDonald began his USC career as a backup strong safety in his freshman year, racking up only seven tackles. Since then, he has started all but two games at free safety and has amassed 229 tackles and seven interceptions in 31 career starts.

The two-time co-captain made the Pro Football Weekly All-American first team last year, joining his father Tim as the first father-son All-American first-teamers in USC history.

McDonald joins Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Oregon State cornerback Jordan Poyer as the three Pac-12 representatives among the 15 semifinalists.

The Southeastern Conference has the most representatives in the semifinalist pool with four nominations. Former LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne was the Thorpe Award winner last season.

The Thorpe Award, created in 1986, is named after Jim Thorpe, considered one of the greatest athletes of his time.

Thorpe, who competed in football, track, basketball, lacrosse and baseball at the collegiate level, was also a gold medalist in the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics and the first president of the National Football League.

A committee of Jim Thorpe Association members will narrow the field to three finalists, who will be announced Nov. 19.

Over 50 sportswriters, sportscasters, former players and coaches will then vote to determine the winner, who will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 6.

A presentation and banquet will commemorate the winner in February in Oklahoma City.