{
  "id": 1407268,
  "title": "Ohio State defensive back named to Thorpe 2026 preseason watch list",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ohio-state-defensive-back-named-to-thorpe-2026-preseason-watch-list",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T02:58:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ohio-state-defensive-back-named-025827941.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, established in 1986 by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, has unveiled its preseason watch list for 2026. Ohio State's defensive back, Earl Little Jr., has been included on the list. Last season, Downs from Ohio State won the award, and Little, a transfer from Florida State, is regarded as his replacement. Little, who began his college career at Alabama, spent his last two seasons at Florida State where he was a team captain and led the Seminoles with 76 tackles. He has been praised for his versatility and playmaking ability. The award will be presented at ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11. Ohio State ranks alongside Oklahoma, LSU, and Texas as one of the programs with the most recipients of the Jim Thorpe Award.",
  "summary": "The Paycom Jim Thorpe 2026 preseason watch list was unveiled last week and an Ohio State defensive back was one of the names that made the cut.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}