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UCLA Football: Jaleel Wadood Named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List

By Mike Regalado

Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive back Jaleel Wadood (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. UCLA defeated Arizona State 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive back Jaleel Wadood (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. UCLA defeated Arizona State 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The award watch lists continue this week and another UCLA Football player has been listed as Jaleel Wadood has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

If you did not know by now, the UCLA Football team has some pretty talented players on the roster. Several have already been named to a few award watch lists and that trend continues into this week.

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Today the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award was announced and UCLA safety Jaleel Wadood made the list of 39 players. The Jim Thorpe Award is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and is awarded to the nation’s top defensive back.

Wadood came on the scene as a true freshman and did not take long to get acclimated with the Bruin defense. In the last two years he has been a very relaible DB that has great field vision, is excellent in coverage and can dish out the hits.

Wadood is part of the reason why UCLA was the top team in the Pac-12 in pass defense last season, only allowing 203.2 yard per game. Though Wadood deserves this honor, it is a little strange that there is no other Bruin on this list.

Wadood has been doing a fantastic job in the secondary with the help of veteran Randall Goforth covering the other safety spot. The Bruins also have some talent and experience at the corners, especially Fabian Moreau, who has already been named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch list, which is given to the nation’s top defender.

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Still this des not dimish what Wadood or the other DBs have done. Even though it is an honor to have your name attached to these award watch lists, they still need to prove themselves on the field, which begins September 3 against Texas A&M. Go Bruins!