July 11, 2014
OKLAHOMA CITY - San Diego State senior J.J. Whittaker (Oceanside, Calif.) is one of 39 players named to the Jim Thorpe Award 2014 Preseason Watch List, which is given to the best defensive back in college football. Whittaker is the third player in SDSU history to be a candidate for the award, and third in the last three years, joining Nat Berhe and Leon McFadden.
It's the third preseason honor this summer for Whittaker, who was also named first-team all-Mountain West by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. An all-MW honorable mention in 2013, Whittaker recorded 32 total tackles and had a team-high 11 passes broken up and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
Whittaker had a break-out performance in a victory over Nevada on Oct. 4, setting a career high with six tackles and five pass breakups. In addition, Whittaker recorded two tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups in a win against Boise State on Nov. 23, en route to being named MW Defensive Player of the Week.
The Jim Thorpe Award is one of the most coveted awards in college football, and is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Not only was Thorpe a legend on the football field, but also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee who compile a list of 30-50 players. The list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses. The Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at the Home Depot Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 on ESPN. Furthermore, the Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
San Diego State returns 12 starters and 35 letterwinners from a team that finished 8-5 overall and 6-2 in Mountain West play a year ago, culminating with a victory over Buffalo, 49-24, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. With its bowl game appearance, the Aztecs became one of only 29 teams in the nation, and one of just five non-BCS schools, to play in a bowl game in each of the last four seasons.
Season tickets are currently on sale through GoAztecs.com and the SDSU ticket office (619) 283-SDSU. An internet only presale for the KGB SkyShow game on Nov. 8 against Idaho is now available for KGB listeners, SDSU season-ticket holders and Aztec Nation subscribers.
Tickets for all individual home games go on sale to the general public on July 21 at 9 a.m. PT, and are available on GoAztecs.com, by phone (619) 283-7378 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) or in person at Qualcomm Stadium Window "E" (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.).