Kenny Phillips Named Semi-Finalist for Thorpe Award

Nov. 6, 2007

Coral Gables – Miami Hurricanes junior safety Kenny Phillips has been named a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annual to the nation’s best college defensive back. Thorpe Award winners are selected for performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

Phillips, a 6-2, 211-pounder from Miami, is the Hurricanes’ second-leading tackler with 78 stops. He also has 5.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups. He is 10 tackles away from his career best.

The semi-finalist list will be narrowed on November 19 to three finalists who will be invited to the nationally telecast Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 6. The winner will be announced on the show and the official presentation will be at a formal banquet in Oklahoma City on February 12, 2007.

The 2007 semi-finalists are:

Trey Brown, Sr., UCLA

Antoine Cason, Sr., Arizona

Vontae Davis, Soph., Illinois

Malcolm Jenkins, Jr., Ohio State

Mike Jenkins, Jr., South Florida

Kenny Phillips, Jr., Miami

James Silva, Sr., Boston College

Reggie Smith, Jr., Oklahoma

Craig Steltz, Sr., LSU

Julius Stinson, Sr., Wyoming

Aqib Talib, Sr., Kansas

Tom Zbikowski, Sr., Notre Dame