Ekpre-Olomu A Semifinalist for Thorpe Award As Top DB
<EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon senior Ifo Ekpre-Olomu was one of 15 semifinalists identified Monday for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the best defensive back in college football.
Ekpre-Olomu, a four-year starter from Chino Hills, Calif., was also on the preseason watch lists for national awards named for Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski. Last week he was named a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
In 2014, Ekpre-Olomu has 40 tackles and two interceptions, with six additional pass breakups. That's despite opponents generally game-planning to avoid throwing at him, particularly California this past week, when fellow cornerback Troy Hill broke up four passes to give him 12 on the season, eighth-most in the nation.
Ekpre-Olomu was one of two Pac-12 players named Thorpe Award semifinalists. The other was safety Jordan Richards of Stanford, which visits Autzen Stadium this Saturday (4:30 p.m. PT, FOX).
