California senior defensive back Nohl Williams has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Tuesday.
 
Williams is one of 15 semifinalists representing seven conferences and one independent university.
 
2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists
Jahdae Barron, Texas, Sr.
Jalen Catalon, UNLV, Sr.
Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, So.
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, Jr.
Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.
Will Johnson, Michigan, Jr.
Rayuan Lane III, Navy, Sr.
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, So.
Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon, Sr.
Xavier Scott, Illinois, Jr.
Terrence Spence, James Madison, Sr.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr.
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, Gr. Sr.
Nohl Williams, California, Sr.
 
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.
 
Williams is having a standout season for the Golden Bears, leading the country in interceptions (6) and tying for eighth on Cal's all-time list with Jaylinn Hawkins, who also had six in 2018. Williams has as many as any Cal player since Daymeion Hughes' eight in 2006, when he was the Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, a consensus first-team All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes was also Cal's only other Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2006. Williams is three shy of Deltha O'Neal's single-season school record of nine interceptions in 1999.
 
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Committee will reconvene Nov. 24 to select three award finalists. The award finalists will be announced as part of a special presentation by ESPN on Nov. 26.
 
The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.
 
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