Sports
Tide's Brown, Hubbard Named To Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
Defensive backs Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard on Wednesday were named to the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List.
TUSCALOOSA, AL — Alabama defensive backs Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard on Wednesday were named to the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List.
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The talented Crimson Tide duo are among 35 players nationally in contention for the award, which is presented annually to the top defensive back in college football.
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Brown enters his junior season after starting all 15 games at cornerback for Alabama as a sophomore. He finished the 2025 campaign with 39 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, while tying for the team lead with six pass breakups and adding a forced fumble.
Brown also provided a pair of game-changing plays in the secondary, returning two interceptions for touchdowns from 99 and 50 yards. He became the first Alabama player with two pick-sixes in a season since 2021 and the first true Crimson Tide cornerback to accomplish the feat since 1992.
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Hubbard, meanwhile, returns for his senior season after earning All-America and All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior.
The safety tied for the SEC lead and led Alabama with four interceptions in 2025. He also finished third on the Crimson Tide defense with 79 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Hubbard tied Brown for the team lead with six pass breakups and added three forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry.
Alabama has produced two Jim Thorpe Award winners since the honor was first presented in 1986.
Antonio Langham became the Crimson Tide's first recipient in 1993, while Minkah Fitzpatrick won the award in 2017.
Named for Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe, the award will narrow its field to 15 semifinalists on Oct. 27.
Three finalists will be announced Nov. 24, with the winner revealed Dec. 11 on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
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