J-Mo on Walter Camp Watch List

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NORTH TEXAS' THOMAS NAMED TO WALTER CAMP WATCH LIST

Courtesy: Sun Belt Conference

Release: 08/17/2005

Courtesy: Sun Belt Conference

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – North Texas sophomore running back Jamario Thomas has been named to the “Players to Watch” list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, it was announced on Wednesday.

Thomas, the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, joins a who’s who list in college football for one of the most prestigious awards in college football.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November. The 2005 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 119 Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on the ESPN/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s annual national awards banquet on Feb. 11, 2006 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.

In his breakout freshman campaign, Thomas led the nation in rushing average (nearly 190 yards per game) and set a school and conference record with 1,801 yards rushing. He had five 200-yard rushing games, setting an NCAA freshman record.

Last year’s recipient was USC quarterback Matt Leinart who led the Trojans to their second consecutive national title. Leinart has returned for his senior year and is once again on the Walter Camp “Watch List.”

Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.