Gerry Named to Thorpe Award Watch List

Nebraska senior safety Nate Gerry was named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award on Monday. The Thorpe Award is given annually to the nation’s top defensive back

The recognition from the Thorpe Award marks the second major national award watch list for Gerry. Last week Gerry was named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award.

Gerry is the most experienced returning player for the 2016 Nebraska Blackshirt defense. The 6-2, 220-pound Gerry has played in all 39 games over the past three seasons with 29 career starts. Gerry has 199 career tackles and is in position to rank second in school history in tackles by a defensive back. He also has nine career interceptions, five away from the NU school record. Last season, he led Nebraska in both tackles (79),  interceptions (five) and pass breakouts (seven).

Gerry was one of four Big Ten defensive backs on the 39-player Thorpe Award Watch List. He was joined on the watch list by Iowa’s Desmond King, Jourdan Lewis of Michigan and Maryland’s William Likely.

Watch list announcements will continue throughout the week.