Nov. 7, 2007
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame fifth-year senior safety Tom Zbikowski was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, as announced by the Jim Thorpe Award Screening Committee. He is one of just two players named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist each of the last two seasons (Antoine Cason is the other). The award is given annually to the nation’s best college defensive back and winners are selected for performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
Zbikowski is one of just four safeties to make the list and he leads the Irish secondary while ranking third on the team with 61 tackles. He has added one sack, one interception, one pass break up, one fumble recovery and three forced fumbles.
Zbikowski was named a midseason second team All-American by Phil Steele and is a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. He became Notre Dame’s career leader in tackles by a defensive back earlier this year and currently ranks 12th all-time in tackles.
The list will be narrowed on Nov. 19 to three finalists who will be invited to the nationally telecast Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6. The winner will be announced on the show and the official presentation will be at a formal banquet in Oklahoma City on Feb. 12, 2008.
2007 Semifinalists
Trey Brown, Sr., CB, UCLA
Antoine Cason, Sr., CB, Arizona
Vontae Davis, Soph., CB, Illinois
Malcolm Jenkins, Jr., CB, Ohio State
Mike Jenkins, Jr., CB, South Florida
Kenny Phillips, Jr., S, Miami
James Silva, Sr., S, Boston College
Reggie Smith, Jr., CB, Oklahoma
Craig Steltz, Sr., S, LSU
Julius Stinson, Sr., CB, Wyoming
Aqib Talib, Sr., CB, Kansas
Tom Zbikowski, Sr., S, Notre Dame
— ND —