OKLAHOMA CITY - Old Dominion University Football safety Mario Easterly has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association announced on Wednesday.
Easterly led the Monarchs in tackles a season ago with 80, starting all 13 games at safety. He added four pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Easterly registered a career high 13 tackles in last year's opener at Indiana and secured nine stops in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl win over South Florida.
The list includes 35 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing ten conferences and one independent university. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists.
ODU Football season tickets remain on sale for the 2026 season and can be purchased here. The Monarchs are currently in their second week of fall camp and open the season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at home against Norfolk State.