IRVING, Texas - Four standout defensive backs from the American Athletic Conference were among the 42 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
The American was represented on the watch list by Charlotte's Dontae Balfour, Navy's Rayuan Lane, East Carolina's Shavon Revel and Rice's Gabriel Taylor.
All four of The American's watch list honorees were all-conference selections last season. Revel earned second-team honors at cornerback, while Balfour was a third-team pick at cornerback, Lane earned third-team accolades at safety and Taylor was an honorable mention choice at safety.