Florida's Will Hill and Janoris Jenkins Named to 2010 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List

Florida football juniors Will Hill and Janoris Jenkins were among 35 of the nation’s best defensive backs named to the 2010 Jim Thorpe preseason watch list, announced by the Jim Thorpe Association Monday. The Jim Thorpe Award is one of college football’s most sought after and prestigious awards, named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an outstanding defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend,” Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. Hill and Jenkins played key roles on the Gator defense in 2009. As a team, Florida held four opponents to under 100 yards in passing offense and six opponents to under 50 percent of passing attempts in 2009. The Gator defense recorded the highest number of interceptions in the SEC (94) and third-highest number in the nation since 2005. This marked the longest streak in the SEC since 1996 with a 17-game streak with an interception in each game from Sept. 20, 2008 through Oct. 10, 2009Hill appeared in all 14 games and made five starts at safety. He totaled 42 tackles, including 31 solo and led the team for the second-consecutive year in special teams’ tackles, finishing with 13 tackles in kickoff and punt coverage.Jenkins started all 13 games in which he appeared and totaled 38 tackles, including 33 solo in 2009. He had three tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups on the season.