Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis, Central Michigan safety Tony Annese and Iowa cornerback Desmond King of Detroit East English are on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award.
The award goes to the top defensive back in college football, and King was the winner in 2015.
King, a senior, had 72 tackles, 21 passes defensed and eight interceptions for the Hawkeyes last season.
Lewis, a senior from Detroit Cass Tech, had 52 tackles and 20 passes defensed in earning All-American honors for the Wolverines last season.
Annese, a senior from Rochester Adams, had 74 tackles, five passes defensed and two interceptions.