(Oklahoma City, OK) Xavion Alford is the next Sun Devil to be featured on a major college football award preseason watch list.
The Football Writers Association of America listed Alford on the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. The Jim Thorpe Award is given to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Alford is receiving plenty of buzz heading into the 2025 season, adding yet another accolade. He was named to the Preseason Big 12 All-Conference Team earlier in the offseason and is considered one of the nation’s top returning defensive backs.
View the Jim Thorpe preseason watch list
Award process
The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
Selection timeline
– Wed., July 30: Preseason Watch List Announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET
– Tue., Oct. 28: Semifinalists Announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET. A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors all defensive backs throughout the season, including watch list players, and narrows the field to up to 15 semifinalists.
– Tue., Nov. 25: Finalists Announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
– Fri., Dec. 12: Winner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards. The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. ET.
– Tue., Feb. 10, 2026: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet Honoring the 2025 Winner in Oklahoma City
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.
About the Jim Thorpe Award
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors. For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Xavion Alford, DB (R-Sr | Pearland, Texas)
- Dubbed himself the @100YardLandlord across his social media platforms and has made sure to become eponymous with the title this season as ASU’s last line of defense in the secondary.
- Played the 4th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 this season (354), allowing just seven receptions, the 2nd-fewest among Big 12 players (min. 250 coverage snaps) and 7th-fewest in the FBS.
- Opponents chose to throw his way on just 4.2 percent of coverage snaps, the 4th-lowest total among all FBS players. His 14 targets on the year were 8th-lowest in the FBS.
- Allowed just 76 yards in coverage last season – 8th-lowest among all FBS players and second in the Big 12.
- Allowed just 0.21 yards per coverage snap last season, lowest in the Big 12 and 4th in the FBS.
- Forced an incompletion 35.7 percent of the time when targeted, the best tally among all FBS players.
- The nation’s 27th-highest graded safety on overall defense (80.5) and 21st-highest graded safety in coverage (85.8)
- ASU’s last line of defense, Alford has been sure-handed as well with the nation’s 37th-best tackling grade among all players (86.6), tops in the Big 12 and 13th among FBS safeties.
- Was credited with just four missed tackles last year, tied for 16th-fewest among FBS safeties (min. 400 snaps) with a 6.8 missed tackle percentage that is 13th among FBS safeties.
- Member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Connor Smith
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