Illinois football defensive back named to 2025 Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list
Illini Defensive Back Earns Prestigious Preseason Recognition
Xavier Scott Named to Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Illinois football standout Xavier Scott has been named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, recognizing the nation's top defensive back.
Scott, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback, earned All-Big Ten first-team honors last season after starting all 13 games. He was also named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2024, placing him among the top 15 defensive backs in college football. Scott's impressive performance also garnered him Phil Steele All-America honorable mention recognition.
The watch list features 35 talented defensive backs from across the country, including six representatives from the Big Ten Conference.
Four Illini Among Prestigious Preseason Watch Lists
Scott is one of four Illinois players to land a spot on a major preseason watch list for the 2025 season. Luke Altmyer (Maxwell Award), Gabe Jacas (Bronko Nagurski Trophy), and J.C. Davis (Outland Trophy) also earned recognition for their potential contributions to the upcoming season.
2025 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List:
- S Xavion Alford, Arizona State
- S Ty Benefield, Boise State
- S KJ Bolden, Georgia
- S Bud Clark, TCU
- S Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
- S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- CB Daylen Everette, Georgia
- CB David Fisher, North Texas
- CB Chance Gamble, Georgia Southern
- S Brylan Green, Liberty
- CB Tyler Hallum, Kennesaw State
- CB Al’zillion Hamilton, Fresno State
- CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
- S Casey Larkin, Army
- CB A’Marion McCoy, Boise State
- CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
- CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
- S Terry Moore, Duke
- CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
- S Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU
- CB Tank Pearson, Ohio
- S Koi Perich, Minnesota
- CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
- CB Chandler Rivers, Duke
- CB De’Shawn Rucker, South Florida
- CB Xavier Scott, Illinois
- S Tyree Skipper, Louisiana
- CB Avery Smith, Toledo
- S Michael Taaffe, Texas
- CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
- S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
- S Jacob Thomas, James Madison
- S DJ Walker, Ohio
- CB JeRico Washington Jr., Kennesaw State
- CB Jontez Williams, Iowa State