Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall fans won’t be the only ones keeping a watchful eye on the Thundering Herd football players.
Defensive back Chris Jackson and center Levi Brown will both be under the microscope for a couple of annual college football awards.
Jackson was named to the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch as the nation’s best defensive back given by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee.
Brown was named to the Outland Trophy watch list which is the honor give to the nation’s best interior lineman either on offense or defense.
Jackson was a preseason All-Conference USA selection by the coaches and Athlon magazine. He has been an all-conference selection in each of the past three seasons and finished last year with 61 tackles — 40 unassisted — one interception, 15 pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
The winner of the Thorpe Award will be selected from three finalists and announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards presented by Gildan on Thursday, Dec. 12, on ESPN.
The 74th Outland Trophy winner will be announced at the same time and come from three semifinalists.
The Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Oklahoma City. The official presentation of the Outland Trophy will be made at the NFID Outland Trophy Awards Dinner on Jan. 15 and sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by Greater Omaha Sports Committee.
The eight semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 20 and the final three finalists named five days later.
Brown was earlier named to the Rimington Trophy watch list which honors the nation’s top center. He was a preseason All-Conference USA selection by the league coaches and Athlon.
The Herd opens the regular season on Saturday, Aug. 31, against VMI.
The 15th annual Conference USA Football Championship Game will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, matching the East and West division winners.