Senior Tejay Johnson, a preseason All-America safety, has been added to the 2010 Jim Thorpe Award watch list, an award which is presented to the nation’s best defensive back.

The Jim Thorpe Award is named after arguably history’s greatest all-around athlete. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as “The Legend,” Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

The Jim Thorpe Award Watch List is determined by analysis of the preseason All-America teams listed in at least six college football magazines.

Johnson also appears on watch lists for the Lott Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He is a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

Johnson was an All-Mountain West Conference selection for the nation’s leading defense last season. He tied for TCU’s team lead with three interceptions while placing fourth with 59 tackles. Johnson recorded a career best and TCU season-high 14 stops in a 38-7 win at BYU. It was the most tackles in a game by a Horned Frog since Marvin White totaled 14 against Baylor in 2006.

A senior from Garland, Texas, Johnson is a habilitation of the deaf/hard of hearing major.

In addition to his work on the gridiron, Johnson mentors middle school kids, volunteers at a homeless shelter and participates in Big Brothers/Big Sisters events. He is also a member of TCU’s gospel choir and the secretary and historian for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.