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Donte Kent next to the Jim Thorpe statue at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. He visited the Hall of Fame as a high school player and then again on July 18-19 as part of the MAC Kickoff Media Day.
Donte Kent Nominated for Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
7/31/2024 5:51:00 PM | Football
Donte Kent is one of 42 players nationwide and three MAC players named to the Watch List for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to college football’s best defensive back.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.—Central Michigan senior defensive back Donte Kent is one of 42 football players nationwide named to the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association jointly announced on Wednesday. Dating back to 1986, the Jim Thorpe Award has been presented annually to the best defensive back in college football.
Representing nine conferences and one independent university, the Watch List includes the nation's best defensive backs. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
Kent is one of three defensive backs from the Mid-American Conference to be selected to the Watch List. A consensus preseason First Team All-MAC selection, Kent was named the league's top cover corner in Lindy's Magazine. Kent is a two-time All-MAC honoree (First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2023) and Football Writers Association Freshman All-America selection in 2021. After making a position switch from cornerback to free safety in 2023, Kent finished the year ranked No. 3 on the squad and No. 29 in the MAC in tackles with 58 (39 solo), led the Chippewas in pass breakups with seven, and registered 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, and a quarterback hurry in 11 games played. He led the Chippewas in tackles in three games and registered two 10-plus tackle games. As a sophomore, he concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in passes defended (15, 1.4 per game) and made 51 tackles (39 solo).
Over his four-year, 41-game career, Kent has totaled 182 tackles (138 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 37 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He enters the 2024 season ranked No. 3 in school records for career pass breakups (37) and needs 10 to break the school record held by Tedaro France (46 from 1998-2001). He also ranks tied for No. 4 in school history in career pass deflections (39). The record is also held by France, who accumulated 56 deflections (46 breakups/10 interceptions) from 1998-01.
The Harrisburg, Pa. native entered the 2023 season as a Bronko Nagurski Award Watch list player and consensus All-MAC preseason honoree. Kent is a Sport Management major.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN'S PRESEASON AWARDS RECIPIENTS
JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST
Donte Kent
AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM WATCH LIST
Dominic Serapiglia III
WUERFFEL TROPHY WATCH LIST
Dominic Serapiglia III
EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL 1000 WATCH LIST
Donte Kent, DB; Marion Lukes, RB; Brayden Swartout, OL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS PRESEASON ALL-MAC
First Team: Brayden Swartout, OL; Donte Kent, DB
Second Team: Marion Lukes, RB; Marion Lukes, KOR
LINDY'S PRESEASON ALL-MAC
First Team: Jesse Prewitt III, WR; Donte Kent, DB
Second Team: Brayden Swartout, OL; Marion Lukes (All-Purpose)
Best Scrambler: Bert Emanuel, Jr.
Best Run Blocker: Brayden Swartout
Best Cover Corner: Donte Kent
Special Teams Demon: Marion Lukes
PHIL STEELE MAGAZINE PRESEASON ALL-MAC/ALL-AMERICA
Fourth Team All-America: Marion Lukes, KOR
Second Team: Marion Lukes, RB; Tyson Davis, WR; Brayden Swartout, OL; Donte Kent, DB; Marion Lukes, KOR
Third Team: Jason Williams, DL; Ben Pratt, LS
Fourth Team: Chris Parker, WR; Justin Whiteside, LB
ATHLON PRESEASON ALL-MAC
First-Team: Brayden Swartout, OL; Donte Kent, CB
Second-Team: Marion Lukes, RB; Jesse Prewitt III, WR; Tyson Davis, WR; Dominic Serapiglia III, OL; Jason Williams, DL; Marion Lukes, KOR
Third Team: Myles Bailey, RB; Davis Heinzen, OL; Justin Whiteside, LB; Da'Raun McKinney, DB
Fourth-Team: Michael Heldman, DL; Caleb Spann, DB
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Representing nine conferences and one independent university, the Watch List includes the nation's best defensive backs. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.
Introducing our 2024 #ThorpeAward Preseason Watch List 🏆@Paycom @ncfaa pic.twitter.com/KFzyNLfSFV
— Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (@jimthorpeaward) July 31, 2024
Kent is one of three defensive backs from the Mid-American Conference to be selected to the Watch List. A consensus preseason First Team All-MAC selection, Kent was named the league's top cover corner in Lindy's Magazine. Kent is a two-time All-MAC honoree (First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2023) and Football Writers Association Freshman All-America selection in 2021. After making a position switch from cornerback to free safety in 2023, Kent finished the year ranked No. 3 on the squad and No. 29 in the MAC in tackles with 58 (39 solo), led the Chippewas in pass breakups with seven, and registered 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, and a quarterback hurry in 11 games played. He led the Chippewas in tackles in three games and registered two 10-plus tackle games. As a sophomore, he concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in passes defended (15, 1.4 per game) and made 51 tackles (39 solo).
Over his four-year, 41-game career, Kent has totaled 182 tackles (138 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 37 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He enters the 2024 season ranked No. 3 in school records for career pass breakups (37) and needs 10 to break the school record held by Tedaro France (46 from 1998-2001). He also ranks tied for No. 4 in school history in career pass deflections (39). The record is also held by France, who accumulated 56 deflections (46 breakups/10 interceptions) from 1998-01.
The Harrisburg, Pa. native entered the 2023 season as a Bronko Nagurski Award Watch list player and consensus All-MAC preseason honoree. Kent is a Sport Management major.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN'S PRESEASON AWARDS RECIPIENTS
JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST
Donte Kent
AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM WATCH LIST
Dominic Serapiglia III
WUERFFEL TROPHY WATCH LIST
Dominic Serapiglia III
EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL 1000 WATCH LIST
Donte Kent, DB; Marion Lukes, RB; Brayden Swartout, OL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS PRESEASON ALL-MAC
First Team: Brayden Swartout, OL; Donte Kent, DB
Second Team: Marion Lukes, RB; Marion Lukes, KOR
LINDY'S PRESEASON ALL-MAC
First Team: Jesse Prewitt III, WR; Donte Kent, DB
Second Team: Brayden Swartout, OL; Marion Lukes (All-Purpose)
Best Scrambler: Bert Emanuel, Jr.
Best Run Blocker: Brayden Swartout
Best Cover Corner: Donte Kent
Special Teams Demon: Marion Lukes
PHIL STEELE MAGAZINE PRESEASON ALL-MAC/ALL-AMERICA
Fourth Team All-America: Marion Lukes, KOR
Second Team: Marion Lukes, RB; Tyson Davis, WR; Brayden Swartout, OL; Donte Kent, DB; Marion Lukes, KOR
Third Team: Jason Williams, DL; Ben Pratt, LS
Fourth Team: Chris Parker, WR; Justin Whiteside, LB
ATHLON PRESEASON ALL-MAC
First-Team: Brayden Swartout, OL; Donte Kent, CB
Second-Team: Marion Lukes, RB; Jesse Prewitt III, WR; Tyson Davis, WR; Dominic Serapiglia III, OL; Jason Williams, DL; Marion Lukes, KOR
Third Team: Myles Bailey, RB; Davis Heinzen, OL; Justin Whiteside, LB; Da'Raun McKinney, DB
Fourth-Team: Michael Heldman, DL; Caleb Spann, DB
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