Kendall Fuller: Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist

The Virginia Tech Hokies have had a rough season outside of the big win at Ohio State but there have definitely been some bright spots on this roster. The roster has proven to be talented but one that is underperforming overall in what has been a frustrating season for many Virginia Tech fans because of this fact.

However, one player has played quite well this season.

Kendall Fuller had been dominant outside of a couple passes against Pittsburgh and a stiff arm by Duke Johnson against Miami. The sophomore cornerback has arguably been the best cornerback in college football despite the fact that Fuller has only 1 interception on the season mainly because teams are either game planning to avoid him or unable to get much by Fuller.

The stats back up the fact that Fuller is having a great season with him having 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 13 pass breakups. These numbers are quite strong and teams have been throwing at him less and less with Miami’s Phillip Dorsett being the latest player to be shut down by Fuller.

Kendall Fuller has received some recognition and is in position to potentially win the Jim Thorpe Award after being named one of 15 semifinalists for the award.

"THORPE AWARD SEMIFINALISTS Sam Carter, TCU, Sr.Jeremy Cash, Duke, Jr.Landon Collins, Alabama, Jr.Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon, Sr.Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, So.Senquez Golson, Ole Miss, Sr.Josh Hawkins, East Carolina, Jr.Gerod Holliman, Louisville, Jr.Ronald Martin, LSU, Sr.Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, Sr.Jordan Richards, Stanford, Sr.Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma, So.Triston Wade, UTSA, Sr.Trae Waynes, Michigan State, Jr.PJ Williams, Florida State, Jr."

Fuller is one of two sophomores on this list along with Oklahoma’s Zack Sanchez and is the only player on this list that is not elligible for the 2015 NFL Draft. Fuller is also one of four ACC players that made the list along with Duke S Jeremy Cash, Louisville S Gerod Holliman, and Florida State CB P.J. Williams which forms what currently should be the All-ACC First Team secondary.

Fuller is one of the top 4 cornerbacks in college football right now along with Oregon’s Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, and Ole Miss’s Senquez Golson. Fuller is one of the best defensive backs in college football and is definitely a contender to be the Jim Thorpe Award winner.

Fuller won’t have many big matchups but he will have one against Duke’s Jamison Crowder and while football games are more than one-on-one matchups, this could be Fuller’s last big chance to make a statement for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Kendall Fuller is one of college football’s top cornerbacks and absolutely deserves to be on this list.