Two members of the Penn State secondary have been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list ahead of the 2022 season. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety Ji’Ayir Brown are among the 35 players recognized on the preseason list. The Thorpe Award is presented each December to the top defensive back in college football, based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
Brown found success in his first season at Penn State in 2021, tying for the nation’s lead with six interceptions. He had one of the more memorable plays of the 2021 season with an 86-yard pick-six to seal the victory against Maryland.