OKLAHOMA CITY -- (Business Wire)

Today, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association is proud to release the finalists for the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. This list includes the nation’s three best defensive backs based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

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Paycom Jim Thorpe Award finalists announced

LSU’s Mansoor Delane, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore are the three defensive backs chosen as the 2025 finalists. This group of finalists represents two Power Four conferences in the SEC and Big Ten, and one independent university.

Mansoor Delane, Louisiana State University, Cornerback, Sr.

Delane has anchored the Tigers’ secondary all season, earning a standout 90.9 PFF Defensive Coverage Grade, one of the top marks in the nation among cornerbacks. Delane totaled 40 tackles (25 solo), 10 passes defended, two interceptions and nine pass breakups, showcasing elite consistency in coverage and physicality in space. Despite playing through a painful core muscle injury since Week 4, Mansoor Delane continues to embrace every responsibility, consistently taking on each opponent’s top receiver and refusing to allow a single 100-yard performance all season. Grounded by a mindset built on accountability and pressure, Delane thrives when the stakes are highest, answering in the moment by stepping up and showing up for his teammates.

Caleb Downs, The Ohio State University, Safety, Jr.

Downs continued to elevate his national profile in 2025 after being named a finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2024, earning an elite 88.5 PFF Defensive Coverage Grade while anchoring one of the nation’s toughest secondaries. Downs recorded 49 tackles (32 solo), one sack, two interceptions, and one pass breakup, showcasing his range, physicality, and reliability on the back end. Downs embodies leadership and integrity, serving as a team captain and a reigning unanimous All-American while anchoring Ohio State’s defense with consistency and poise. Off the field, he was honored as Ohio State’s male recipient of the Big Ten’s 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, a testament to his commitment to uplifting his community with the same purpose and excellence he brings to competition.

Leonard Moore, University of Notre Dame, Cornerback, So.

Moore delivered one of the nation’s most dynamic defensive seasons, earning a PFF Defensive Coverage Grade of 91.4, one of the highest marks among cornerbacks. Moore totaled 26 tackles (19 solo, seven assisted) and showcased exceptional playmaking instincts with four interceptions, four pass breakups, and four passes defended. He also added a forced fumble and one touchdown, proving to be a consistent momentum-shifter in Notre Dame’s secondary. Despite his sophomore status in the locker room, Moore is viewed as a steady leader, earning the trust of the defensive staff to the point where game plans are often shaped around his dependable presence. Coaches praise not only his maturity and discipline, but also his uplifting energy, making him an invaluable presence beyond his on-field production.

The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Finalists Fan Vote

For the eighth consecutive season, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award will hold the official Finalists Fan Vote. Voting opens Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. EST and closes Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. EST. Voting is free to all participants. The winner of the fan vote will receive one vote toward the overall nationwide results. Use the link below to be directed to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Finalists Fan Vote.

https://www.paycom.com/about/sponsorships/jim-thorpe-award/

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Important Dates

Fri., Dec. 12: Winner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards

The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. EST. Other recognized NCFAA awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, John Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.

Tue., Feb. 10, 2026: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet Honoring the 2025 Winner in Oklahoma City

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.

Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) (“Paycom”), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

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Contacts:

Olivia James
Marketing Communications & Event Director
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
ojames@oksportshof.org

Source: Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame