TicketsCINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati safety James Wiggins (Homestead, Florida/South Dade) was named to the preseason watch list for the 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football. The award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football.
Wiggins was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018 after tallying 54 tackles and four interceptions while showing a big-play flair in the secondary. He started his season by earning a spot on Bruce Feldman's annual list of the freakiest athletes in college football and showed it on the field with four game-changing interceptions. His first career interception was in the second quarter of the opener at UCLA, which led to a Warren TD, giving UC a lead it would not relinquish. Interception No. 2 came in the waning minutes against Ohio when he jumped a route on the goal line to end the Bobcats scoring threat and seal the win for UC. Wiggins' third interception came in overtime at SMU, an 86-yard interception return for a TD which gave UC its first extra-period win since 2008. The 86-yard run back was the fourth longest in school history and longest since current UC CB coach Mike Mickens had a 79-yard INT return for a TD against USF in 2007. His final interception of the year came late in the fourth quarter of the Military Bowl when he tracked down and hauled in a Hokies pass to seal UC's first bowl win since 2012.
He earned preseason First-Team, All-American Athletic Conference accolades from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's Preseason College Football Magazine. He was named to Bruce Feldman's College Football Freaks list for the second-straight season.
The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, December 12, 2019, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, in Oklahoma City.
The Bearcats, picked second in the AAC preseason media poll, finished 2018 with 11 or more wins for the third time in program history (2008, 2009) and knocked off Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. Entering 2019, UC is set to return more than 85% of its roster, over 5,000 yards of total offense, 10 of its Top-15 tacklers and 14 starters from the 2018 squad.
UC will report for training camp later this month to begin preparations for the 2019 season which opens in primetime on ESPN against UCLA on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Nippert Stadium. Anyone who has yet to renew their tickets for this season and new season ticket holders should contact the athletics ticket office at 1-877-CATS-TIX or online at GoBEARCATS.com/tickets.
HONORING THE 2009 BEARCATS
The Bearcats will honor the 10th Anniversary of the 2009 perfect regular season throughout the campaign with all season ticket holders set to receive an exclusive dual bobblehead commemorating one of the greatest plays in UC history, the 29-yard TD strike from Tony Pike to Armon Binns in UC's come-from-behind win over Pitt on Dec. 5, 2009.
All 2019 UC football season-ticket holders will receive the dual bobblehead, one per ticket purchased. The only way to guarantee receiving one of the limited-edition items is to purchase 2019 season tickets. The season-ticket book, also exclusive to season-ticket holders, features a dual 2009-2019 season-ticket design showcasing Bearcats stars of past and present.
Click HERE for more information.
TICKETS
Prices start at $99 in the Aquafina Family Section for an exciting six-game home schedule in Nippert Stadium which includes primetime matchups under the lights against UCLA and two-time defending American Athletic Conference Champion UCF, along with the annual Battle for the Victory Bell against Miami (OH), the 2009 team recognition against Tulsa, a homecoming matchup against UConn and senior day against Temple.
Check out the newly launched football season tickets hub by clicking HERE.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award annually recognizes the best defensive back in college football. The award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football.
Wiggins was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree in 2018 after tallying 54 tackles and four interceptions while showing a big-play flair in the secondary. He started his season by earning a spot on Bruce Feldman's annual list of the freakiest athletes in college football and showed it on the field with four game-changing interceptions. His first career interception was in the second quarter of the opener at UCLA, which led to a Warren TD, giving UC a lead it would not relinquish. Interception No. 2 came in the waning minutes against Ohio when he jumped a route on the goal line to end the Bobcats scoring threat and seal the win for UC. Wiggins' third interception came in overtime at SMU, an 86-yard interception return for a TD which gave UC its first extra-period win since 2008. The 86-yard run back was the fourth longest in school history and longest since current UC CB coach Mike Mickens had a 79-yard INT return for a TD against USF in 2007. His final interception of the year came late in the fourth quarter of the Military Bowl when he tracked down and hauled in a Hokies pass to seal UC's first bowl win since 2012.
He earned preseason First-Team, All-American Athletic Conference accolades from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's Preseason College Football Magazine. He was named to Bruce Feldman's College Football Freaks list for the second-straight season.
The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The 2019 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, December 12, 2019, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, in Oklahoma City.
The Bearcats, picked second in the AAC preseason media poll, finished 2018 with 11 or more wins for the third time in program history (2008, 2009) and knocked off Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. Entering 2019, UC is set to return more than 85% of its roster, over 5,000 yards of total offense, 10 of its Top-15 tacklers and 14 starters from the 2018 squad.
UC will report for training camp later this month to begin preparations for the 2019 season which opens in primetime on ESPN against UCLA on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Nippert Stadium. Anyone who has yet to renew their tickets for this season and new season ticket holders should contact the athletics ticket office at 1-877-CATS-TIX or online at GoBEARCATS.com/tickets.
HONORING THE 2009 BEARCATS
The Bearcats will honor the 10th Anniversary of the 2009 perfect regular season throughout the campaign with all season ticket holders set to receive an exclusive dual bobblehead commemorating one of the greatest plays in UC history, the 29-yard TD strike from Tony Pike to Armon Binns in UC's come-from-behind win over Pitt on Dec. 5, 2009.
All 2019 UC football season-ticket holders will receive the dual bobblehead, one per ticket purchased. The only way to guarantee receiving one of the limited-edition items is to purchase 2019 season tickets. The season-ticket book, also exclusive to season-ticket holders, features a dual 2009-2019 season-ticket design showcasing Bearcats stars of past and present.
Click HERE for more information.
TICKETS
Prices start at $99 in the Aquafina Family Section for an exciting six-game home schedule in Nippert Stadium which includes primetime matchups under the lights against UCLA and two-time defending American Athletic Conference Champion UCF, along with the annual Battle for the Victory Bell against Miami (OH), the 2009 team recognition against Tulsa, a homecoming matchup against UConn and senior day against Temple.
Check out the newly launched football season tickets hub by clicking HERE.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.