University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss' Pruitt Named Thorpe Award Semifinalist
11/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Southern Miss' Pruitt Named Thorpe Award Semifinalist
"I'm proud of Etric and what he's accomplished so far this year," Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said. "This honor exemplifies how hard he works and how much time he puts into his preparation for each game. He is always ready to play and is one of our team defenisve leaders."
Pruitt and the 13 other semifinalists now advance to the next stage. Three finalists will be selected for the award on Nov. 25, and the winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show, broadcast from Disney World on Dec. 12. Formal presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the annual Jim Thorpe Awards ceremonies on Feb. 11, 2003.
Pruitt, a 6-foot, 186-pound redshirt junior, has been one of the leaders on the Southern Miss defense this season. He leads the team in interceptions (6), pass breakups (9), forced fumbles (2), fumbles recovered (2) and has blocked a kick.
"Etric deserves this honor," Southern Miss Defensive Backs Coach Jay Hopson said. "He really plays the game hard. There are not many players out there who play the game as hard as he does. He studies film, works hard and is right on track to be a great player. I believe he's as good a safety as there is in college football."
He also ranks nationally in a number of categories, including interceptions per game (third with 0.75), interception return yardage (eighth with 96) and sixth in passes broken up. In Conference USA, Pruitt is fifth overall in total tackles (81) and second in fumbles recovered.
Pruitt has turned in some big performances this season, twice earning C-USA Player of the Week honors. He had a 17-tackle performance against Alabama, had three interceptions against Army and returned a key interception for a touchdown in a win over Cincinnati. Pruitt also has had three games in which he posted 10 or more tackles.
"I'm kind of shocked that I was named as one of the semifinalists," Pruitt said. "I'm pleased. I didn't know anything about it until today after practice. This gives me more motivation to make more plays this season and help the team."
The Thorpe Award has been presented since 1986, based on the winner's performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
Voted the 20th century's greatest athlete in a poll by ABC's Wide World of Sports, Jim Thorpe was a two-time All American running back and defensive back. He also was the winner of the decathlon and pentathlon gold medals in the 1912 Olympics, and later became a standout in both professional football and baseball. Thorpe was also the first president of what later became the National Football League.
2002 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists
Rod Babers, Sr., Texas
Sammy Davis, Sr., Texas A&M
Mike Doss, Sr., Ohio State
Brandon Everage, Jr., Oklahoma
Terrance Holt, Sr., N. Carolina St.
Terence Newman, Sr., Kansas St.
Willie Pile, Sr., Virgina Tech
Troy Polamalu, Sr., USC
Etric Pruitt, Jr., Southern Miss.
Stuart Schweigert, Jr., Purdue
Shane Walton, Sr., Notre Dame
Derrick Strait, Jr., Oklahoma
Dennis Weathersby, Sr., Oregon St.
Eugene Wilson, Sr., Illinois
Previous winners include:
Roy Williams, Oklahoma, 2001
Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin, 2000
Tyrone Carter, Minnesota, 1999
Antoine Winfield, Ohio State, 1998
Charles Woodson, Michigan, 1997
Lawrence Wright, Florida, 1996
Greg Myers, Colorado State, 1995
Chris Hudson, Colorado, 1994
Antonio Langham, Alabama, 1993
Deon Figures, Colorado, 1992
Terrell Buckley, Florida State, 1991
Darryll Lewis, Arizona, 1990
Mark Carrier, USC, 1989
Deion Sanders, Florida State, 1988
Bennie Blades, Miami, and Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma, (tie) 1987; and Thomas Everett, Baylor, 1986.
