TCU Football's Carter on Jim Thorpe Award Watch List

Mark Cohen spits about Carter:

TCU safety Sam Carter has been named to the watch list for the 2014 Jim Thorpe Award.

The Jim Thorpe Award is presented to the nation’s top defensive back.

Carter has now been selected to four preseason watch lists for national awards. He is also a candidate for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

A two-time All-Big 12 selection, Carter will take the field this fall as a graduate student. In May, he received his TCU degree in sociology with a minor in business.

Carter led TCU last season with five interceptions while tying for second with four sacks. He had 7 1/2 tackles for loss among his 49 stops. The New Orleans native added two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Carter was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Horned Frogs' 48-17 win over SMU. He totaled five tackles, 1 1/2 for loss and a sack. He also forced a fumble and had two interceptions, including one returned 66 yards for a touchdown.

TCU All-American Tejay Johnson was a 2010 finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, while fellow Horned Frogs All-American Jason Verrett was a 2013 semifinalist.

Carter is one of nine returning starters on defense for TCU this season, not including 2012 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year Devonte Fields who was limited to just three games last season due to injury.