Secondary stars T.J. McDonald and Nickell Robey are on the preseason watch list for the Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's best defensive back. The All-American safety and All-Pac-12 cornerback made up two of the 35 nominations.
Click here for the full list.
In 1989, Mark Carrier became USC's only Thorpe Award winner (created in 1986). All-American safeties Troy Polamalu (2002) and Taylor Mays (2008) were finalists, but did not take home the grand prize.
(Photo by Jon SooHoo)
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