STARKVILLE – Mississippi State senior defensive back Derek Pegues has been named to a 40-member initial watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Association announced. The award is presented to the nation’s top defensive back at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in December.

Pegues enters his senior season with 10 career interceptions, tied for fifth all-time in school history and just six shy of Walt Harris’ school record. Pegues’ three interception returns for touchdowns has already set a new Mississippi State standard, and his 216 yards on interception returns is the second most ever tallied by a Bulldog.

A two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection, the Batesville, Miss., native has also excelled in the return game. Just 525 yards shy of setting the SEC record for kick return yards (Derek Abney, Kentucky – 2,315), Pegues also stands in sixth place on the conference charts for combined return yardage (2,410 – 1,790 kick return, 620 punt return).

The 2008 Jim Thorpe Award watch list includes 40 of the nation’s best defensive backs as the leading candidates for this year’s trophy.

The list is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-American teams listed in at least six pre-season college football annual magazines.  Four points are awarded for first team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for fourth teams and honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 40 players on the pre-season watch list. This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.