... recently released and includes 35 of the nation's best defensive backs as the leading candidates for this year's trophy.

Three of those players come from the Big Ten. Iowa's Tyler Sash and Ohio State's Jermale Hines and Chimdi Chekwa all represent the Big Ten this year on the watch list.

Sash was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2009. To go along with the Thorpe watch list, he has been named to the Lott Trophy Watch List and the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List. 

Sash has started 21 straight games for the Hawkeyes and holds the Iowa record for career interception return yards. 

Hines and Chekwa both appear on Phil Steele's preseason first-team all-Big Ten. Hines returned an interception for a ...

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