Jourdan Lewis named to 2016 Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Senior defensive back Jourdan Lewis has been named to the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award watch list. The award is given to the best defensive back in college football.

Lewis has already been named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy.

The senior from Detroit Cass Technical High School in Michigan had a season to remember in 2015 with the Wolverines. He was an All-American with 52 tackles and 21 passes defended.

Lewis has been a leader for Michigan since day one but found his groove on the field last season. In 2015, the All-Big Ten performer made 52 tackles and logged two interceptions. Through the first 10 games of his junior year, Lewis has 20 breakups to set a new Michigan record. By the end of the year, he had 21 pass breakups, which beat out the previous record of 18 breakups by Marlin Jackson in 2002 and Leon Hall in 2006.

Charles Woodson is the only Michigan player to ever win the Jim Thorpe Award. He won it in 1997, which was his Heisman Trophy season.

The winner of the award will be announced on December 8.