MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan senior Amari Coleman has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List.
The award goes to the top defensive back in college football.
Coleman is one of 45 players nationwide, and one of three representing a Mid-American Conference school, named to the list. Shawun Laurry of Northern Illinois and Heath Harding of Miami (Ohio) are the other MAC representatives on the list.
Coleman is entering his third year as a starter at cornerback. He earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2016, when he led the league in passes defended (19) and pass breakups (15), and shared the conference lead with four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.