University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Erik Williams
TJ Carter Named to Pair of Watch Lists
Jul 24, 2018 | Football
Sophomore DB earns spot on two national watch lists.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis sophomore defensive back TJ Carter has been named to a national watch list on consecutive days, including the Jim Thorpe Award list on Monday and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Tuesday.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recognizes the best defensive back in college football and starts the season with 35 players, including three from the American Athletic Conference. Carter was joined on that list by UCF's Kyle Gibson and Temple's Delvon Randall.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football, and the 2018 preseason watch list has 97 entries, including seven from the American Athletic Conference. Players are added or removed from the list during the season, and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announces a Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday. Last year, Memphis won that national award on back-to-back weeks including Austin Hall after the Tigers' 30-27 win over No. 24/No. 25 Navy and Carter the following week after Memphis' come-from-behind 42-38 win at Houston.
Carter started every game for Memphis as a true freshman in 2017 and led the team with seven total takeaways, including two fumble recoveries and five interceptions. He had 16 pass breakups and added a forced fumble and a TFL.
On his first collegiate snap, Carter recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and went on to earn FWAA and USA TodayFreshman All-America honors by the end of the season. He finished fifth on the Memphis roster with 69 total tackles and was named the AAC Rookie of the Year and a second team all-conference honoree.
Carter is the seventh different Tiger to earn a spot on a preseason watch list. Curtis Akins was named to the Bednarik and Butkus Award lists, while Darrell Henderson earned spots on the Maxwell and Doak Walker Award lists. Center Drew Kyser was named to the Rimington Trophy list, while Joey Magnifico earned a spot on the Mackey Award list. Tony Pollard was named to the Maxwell Award list and teammate Trevon Tate was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.
That core of Tigers reports with their teammates for fall camp on Aug. 2. Fans can get their first peak at the 2018 Tigers at Fan Fest, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 11. That event includes a 4 pm equipment sale, a 4:20 pm scrimmage and a 6 pm autograph session.
Tickets for the 2018 Tigers, who were picked to win the West in the AAC in a poll of league media representatives on Tuesday, are on sale now at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recognizes the best defensive back in college football and starts the season with 35 players, including three from the American Athletic Conference. Carter was joined on that list by UCF's Kyle Gibson and Temple's Delvon Randall.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football, and the 2018 preseason watch list has 97 entries, including seven from the American Athletic Conference. Players are added or removed from the list during the season, and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announces a Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday. Last year, Memphis won that national award on back-to-back weeks including Austin Hall after the Tigers' 30-27 win over No. 24/No. 25 Navy and Carter the following week after Memphis' come-from-behind 42-38 win at Houston.
Carter started every game for Memphis as a true freshman in 2017 and led the team with seven total takeaways, including two fumble recoveries and five interceptions. He had 16 pass breakups and added a forced fumble and a TFL.
On his first collegiate snap, Carter recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and went on to earn FWAA and USA TodayFreshman All-America honors by the end of the season. He finished fifth on the Memphis roster with 69 total tackles and was named the AAC Rookie of the Year and a second team all-conference honoree.
Carter is the seventh different Tiger to earn a spot on a preseason watch list. Curtis Akins was named to the Bednarik and Butkus Award lists, while Darrell Henderson earned spots on the Maxwell and Doak Walker Award lists. Center Drew Kyser was named to the Rimington Trophy list, while Joey Magnifico earned a spot on the Mackey Award list. Tony Pollard was named to the Maxwell Award list and teammate Trevon Tate was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.
That core of Tigers reports with their teammates for fall camp on Aug. 2. Fans can get their first peak at the 2018 Tigers at Fan Fest, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 11. That event includes a 4 pm equipment sale, a 4:20 pm scrimmage and a 6 pm autograph session.
Tickets for the 2018 Tigers, who were picked to win the West in the AAC in a poll of league media representatives on Tuesday, are on sale now at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
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