OKLAHOMA CITY - Xavion Alford is the next Sun Devil to be featured on a major college football award preseason watch list.
The Football Writers Association of America listed Alford on the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. The Jim Thorpe Award is given to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Alford is receiving plenty of buzz heading into the 2025 season, adding yet another accolade. He was named to the Preseason Big 12 All-Conference Team earlier in the offseason and is considered one of the nation's top returning defensive backs.
OSHOF reveals the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, including 35 standout defensive backs named as preseason candidates to watch out for this upcoming season! - https://t.co/h3I6iUivA5 pic.twitter.com/Fy9SJ8N9nT
— Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (@jimthorpeaward) July 30, 2025
Award process
The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
Selection timeline
- Wed., July 30: Preseason Watch List Announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET
- Tue., Oct. 28: Semifinalists Announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET. A screening committee consisting of OSHOF members monitors all defensive backs throughout the season, including watch list players, and narrows the field to up to 15 semifinalists.
- Tue., Nov. 25: Finalists Announced at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET. The three finalists are submitted to a national panel of over 250 sports writers, sportscasters, former players and coaches who vote to determine the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
- 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. ET.
- 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.
About the Jim Thorpe Award
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.
For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org.
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Xavion Alford, DB (R-Sr | Pearland, Texas) |
- Dubbed himself the @100YardLandlord across his social media platforms and has made sure to become eponymous with the title this season as ASU’s last line of defense in the secondary.
- Played the 4th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 this season (354), allowing just seven receptions, the 2nd-fewest among Big 12 players (min. 250 coverage snaps) and 7th-fewest in the FBS.
- Opponents chose to throw his way on just 4.2 percent of coverage snaps, the 4th-lowest total among all FBS players. His 14 targets on the year were 8th-lowest in the FBS.
- Allowed just 76 yards in coverage last season - 8th-lowest among all FBS players and second in the Big 12.
- Allowed just 0.21 yards per coverage snap last season, lowest in the Big 12 and 4th in the FBS.
- Forced an incompletion 35.7 percent of the time when targeted, the best tally among all FBS players.
- The nation’s 27th-highest graded safety on overall defense (80.5) and 21st-highest graded safety in coverage (85.8)
- ASU’s last line of defense, Alford has been sure-handed as well with the nation’s 37th-best tackling grade among all players (86.6), tops in the Big 12 and 13th among FBS safeties.
- Was credited with just four missed tackles last year, tied for 16th-fewest among FBS safeties (min. 400 snaps) with a 6.8 missed tackle percentage that is 13th among FBS safeties.
- Member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council.
More on Sun Devil Football's 2025 preseason watch lists
C.J Fite on two preseason watch lists
The Football Writers Association of America listed Fite on both their Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists. The Nagurski Trophy recognizes the national defensive player of the year, while the Outland is presented to the nation's best interior lineman (offensive or defensive). Fite is one of only eight individuals to land on both lists.
Maxwell Award preseason watch list
The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 89th Maxwell Award and Sun Devil Football has a pair of representatives.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson are each candidates for the annual award given to the most outstanding player in college football. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Leavitt and Tyson are one of only 17 pairs of teammates to land on the Preseason Maxwell Award Watch List. The tandem is considered one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combinations in the country heading into the 2025 season and national outlets continue to take notice.
2025 Dodd Trophy preseason watch list
Sun Devil Football Head Coach Kenny Dillingham was named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Dodd Trophy. The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. released the initial candidates for the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank. This year's list includes 26 of the nation's top college football coaches, highlighted by Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham.
Dillingham was a finalist for the 2024 Dodd Trophy after leading the Sun Devils to a historic 11-3 season which culminated in a Big 12 Championship, Peach Bowl Appearance, and berth in the College Football Playoff. He was named 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year for his efforts and is once again being considered as one of the top coaches entering the 2025 season.
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Kenny Dillingham, ASU |
Josh Heupel, Tennessee |
2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Team (media vote)
- Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State, RS-So.
Preseason All-Conference Team (offense)
- QB: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, RS-So.
- WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, RS-Jr.
- OL: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Gr.
Preseason All-Conference Team (defense)
- DL: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Jr.
- DB: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, RS-Sr.
Most Preseason All-Conference selections
Sun Devil Football received the most preseason All-Conference selections by the media, an indication of the level of expectations set for the program around the nation. It is a complete contrast to last season, when zero players from Arizona State landed on the Preseason All-Conference team.
Arizona State, 5
Baylor, 4
Iowa State, 3
Texas Tech, 3
Six teams tied with 2
Walter Camp Preseason All-American teams
The Walter Camp Football Foundation released their Preseason All-American Teams at the end of June and Sun Devil Football has a pair of representatives.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson each landed on the Walter Camp Preseason All-American Second Team. They are two of the 11 individuals to earn the national recognition.
The Sun Devil offense will feature one of the nation's best quarterback-wide receiver duos. Arizona State is one of 11 schools to have at least two players be named Preseason All-Americans by Walter Camp.
Walter Camp Preseason Second-Team All-Americans
Second-Team Offense
QB: Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
WR: Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
RB: Makhi Hughes (Oregon), Isaac Brown (Louisville)
TE: Justin Joly (North Carolina State)
OL: Ar’maj Reed-Adams (Texas A&M), Cayden Green (Missouri), Jordan Seaton (Colorado), Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State)
C: Logan Jones (Iowa)
Walter Camp Preseason All Americans by school
Alabama, Clemson, Indiana, Penn State, Texas - 3
Arizona State, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M - 2
Athlon Sports Preseason Big 12 honors
A total of 15 Sun Devils received Big 12 Preseason All-Conference recognition from Athlon Sports. Leading the way was wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who landed on the First Team Offense of Athlon Sports' Preseason All-American Team.
Tyson also was a First Team Big 12 All-Conference selection and is joined by fellow Media Day attendees Sam Leavitt, Ben Coleman, and Xavian Alford in earning the distinction. Here is a full list of preseason honorees from Athlon Sports.