CHARLOTTE - Preseason accolades continue to roll in for Charlotte defensive back Dontae Balfour who was named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back, on Wednesday.
Balfour, a preseason all-conference selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, tied the 49er program record for pass breakups in a season (11) and in a game (4) in 2023, his first with the Green and White. He is already six breakups shy of the school record entering 2024 where he is expected to play a significant role in the upstart Charlotte program under second-year head coach Biff Poggi.