The Thorpe Award is the second watch list for the 2018 season for Johnson and first for Jackson. Johnson was previously named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award. The Bednarik Award honors the best defensive player in College Football. Both Miami Hurricanes defensive backs have received several mentions this preseason.
Both players were named preseason All-Americans by UPI. In addition to the above-mentioned honors, Johnson was named the nation’s eighth-best player by Sports Illustrated, first-team All-ACC by Athlon Sports and the third best safety in the country by the College Football News.