Two Ohio State football players named to Thorpe preseason watch list

The march of college football preseason watch lists continue, and Ohio State has thus far been well represented.

On Wednesday, the Thorpe Award released its watch list and both Caleb Downs and Denzel Burke were among the 35 names appearing. The Thorpe is one of the most prestigious awards in college football and goes to the player judged to be the best defensive back in the country annually. It has been around since 1986 and is voted on by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

You know the Buckeye duo well. Downs is coming off of a Freshman All-American campaign at Alabama, and Burke is a three-year starter and highly productive corner that will be be drafted in the NFL next April.

OSU is one of five schools that have two players appearing on the list.

Antoine Winfield and Malcom Jenkins are the only two Ohio State players that have won the Jim Thorpe Award. We’ll see if Downs or Burke can become the third when it’s announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.