Western Kentucky senior defensive back Joe Brown became the sixth Hilltopper named to a preseason national watch list on Friday as he earned a spot on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, the nation’s top award for a collegiate defensive back.
An All-Conference USA Second Team selection in 2016, the senior from Louisville started 10 games for the Hilltoppers and appeared in all 14 at cornerback as a true junior. His 10 pass breakups led the team, while his 11 passes defended tied for the team lead. Brown tallied 43 tackles (34 solo) on the season, the sixth-most by any Hilltopper, to go along with four tackles for loss and two sacks.