Former Clairton standout and current Penn State safety Lamont Wade has been placed on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back.
The Thorpe Award, named after former collegiate and professional football player, professional baseball player and Olympic pentathlete and decathlete Jim Thorpe, is voted on by members of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Wade was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2019, after making 13 starts in his first season as a starter with the Nittany Lions.
The 5-foot-9, 188-pound defensive back originally joined the Lions as a cornerback, but the move to safety has paid dividends.
He finished the season with 67 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also forced three fumbles, recovered one and defended five passes.
Wade joined Pitt and former Steel Valley safety Paris Ford on the list, giving the WPIAL a pair of Thorpe-nominated defensive backs.
He’s no Paris Ford
Wade is a beast!
Yes he is, but way too slow!!! He would be a great LB, but too small.
Like I said: He’s no Paris Ford.