Thorpe Award Recognizes Finney, Perich

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced on Wednesday that Oregon's Brandon Finney Jr. and Koi Perich were among 35 players selected to the preseason watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding defensive backs.

Oregon is one of five schools to have multiple defensive backs on the watch list, along with Georgia, Alabama, Jacksonville State and Tulsa.

No. 2 in the AFCA preseason coaches poll, the Ducks are going into their seventh practice of fall camp on Wednesday in preparation for their 2026 season opener against Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 5, in Autzen Stadium (12:30 p.m., CBS). Season and single-game tickets are available at www.GoDucks.com/fbtix.

DB Brandon Finney Jr.
» 2026 Walter Camp Preseason All-America first team
» 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list
» 2025 FWAA freshman all-America
» 2025 All-Big Ten second team (coaches, AP)
» 2026 Capital One Orange Bowl Defensive MVP
» Started all 15 games for the Ducks as a true freshman in 2025.
» Led Oregon with three interceptions and eight pass breakups while adding 42 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
» Two of three interceptions came in the CFP Quarterfinal; also had a pick-six against Indiana on Oct. 11.
» Led all Big Ten cornerbacks and tied for 11th among FBS cornerbacks in reception rate allowed at just 40.0 percent.

DB Koi Perich
» 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list
» 2026 Paul Hornung Award watch list
» 2026 Big Ten Preseason Honors
» An all-Big Ten second-team selection in 2025 at Minnesota before transferring to Oregon.
» Played in all 13 games for Minnesota in 2025, seeing action on defense, offense and special teams.
» 82 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble in 2025.
» Also returned 19 kickoffs for 499 yards and 18 punts for 118 yards.
» Lone interception of the season was returned 27 yards for a touchdown against Purdue.
» All-Big Ten first-team selection as a true freshman in 2024.

Oregon 2026 Preseason Honors
Walter Camp Preseason All-America - DB Brandon Finney Jr. (1st), OLB Teitum Tuioti (1st), TE Jamari Johnson (2nd), DL A'Mauri Washington (2nd)
Big Ten Preseason Honors - QB Dante Moore, DB Koi Perich
Maxwell Award Watch List - QB Dante Moore
Outland Trophy Watch List - DL Bear Alexander, OL Iapani Laloulu, DL A'Mauri Washington
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List - DB Brandon Finney Jr., DB Koi Perich, DL A'Mauri Washington
John Mackey Award Watch List - TE Jamari Johnson
Rimington Trophy Watch List - OL Iapani Laloulu
Paul Hornung Award Watch List - DB Koi Perich
Lombardi Award Watch List - TE Jamari Johnson, OL Iapani Laloulu, OLB Teitum Tuioti, OLB Matayo Uiagalelei, DL A'Mauri Washington
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List - QB Dante Moore
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award - DB Brandon Finney Jr., DB Koi Perich