Chris Johnson Named Semifinalist for Jim Thorpe Award

OKLAHOMA CITY -- San Diego State senior cornerback Chris Johnson (Eastvale, Calif.) has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association announced Tuesday. Johnson is one of 15 semifinalists for the award, which goes out to the nation’s best defensive back.

Johnson is the first Aztec semifinalist for the Thorpe Award since cornerback Luq Barcoo in 2019. The last time SDSU had a player on the Thorpe Award Watch List was 2020 when cornerback Darren Hall and safety Tariq Thompson were on the preseason watch lists.

On the season, Johnson has totaled 38 tackles (24 solo), three interceptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns, six pass breakups, a forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for loss. Johnson was recently named a midseason first-team All-American by the Associated Press, along with a second-team pick by Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Network and Athlon Sports.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson is ranked as the top cornerback in the country this year with a 91.0 defensive grade. That mark is even more impressive when considering the minimum defensive snaps for that grade is just 50. He’s also No. 1 in coverage grade among cornerbacks at 91.3 (min. just 25 snaps). According to PFF, when targeted against Johnson this year, receivers are 13-for-31 (41.9 pct.) for 141 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns. That’s a defensive pass efficiency rating of 60.79.

This year, Johnson is ranked in tie for first in FBS in interceptions returned for a touchdown (2), second in interception yards (146, 1st in MW), tied for 10th in passes defended per game (1.29, 3rd in MW), tied for 11th in total interceptions (3, T-3rd in MW) and total passes defended (11, T-2nd in MW), 12th in interceptions per game (0.43, 4th in MW) and tied for 41st in total pass breakups (6, T-4th in MW). He’s also tied for sixth in the league in forced fumbles (1) and tied for eighth in forced fumbles per game (0.14).

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will announce the three finalists on Nov. 25 with the winner being announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. ET. 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.

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.

The Aztecs (6-1, 3-0 MW) are coming off a 23-0 win at Fresno State on Saturday en route to becoming bowl eligible and retaining the Old Oil Can trophy. SDSU is off to its best start since starting 7-0 in 2021 when it won a school-record 12 games. SDSU plays host to Wyoming (4-4, 2-2 MW) at 4 p.m. PT Saturday for Homecoming.