Le Lézard
Classified in: Sports and recreation
Subject: Award

Roy Williams to Present the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Winner


The top defensive back in college football will take home the coveted Paycom Jim Thorpe award Thursday night as part of ESPN's College Football Awards. Presenting the award on behalf of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and sponsor Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) will be Roy Williams, former University of Oklahoma football standout and recipient of the 2001 Paycom Jim Thorpe award.

"It's a privilege and great opportunity to present this prestigious award to this year's winner," said Williams. "The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award means a lot to me, and being able to once again take part in its rich tradition is an honor. I'm proud to align with this award and a fast-growing national brand in Paycom."

A former All-America safety, Williams was a key part of the defense that led OU to a National Championship in 2000, a season in which he set a school record for tackles for loss by a defensive back (12) and took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top overall defensive player.

In addition to a number of personal awards and accolades, Williams is also remembered at OU for his iconic play in the 2001 Red River Shootout. The play earned him the nickname "Superman."

Williams went on to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the eighth overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. His professional career spanned nine seasons and included five Pro Bowl appearances from 2003 to 2007.

"We are honored to sponsor the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and have a former winner present this year's trophy," said Paycom's founder and CEO Chad Richison. "Roy obviously left his mark on the game at all levels of football and having a marquee player present the award should be a special moment for the winner."

Now in its 33rd year, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive back in college football and is the OSHOF's most distinguished national accolade. This year's finalists include: Louisiana State University junior Grant Delpit, Ohio State University junior Jeff Okudah, and University of Georgia senior J.R. Reed. Fans will have the unique opportunity to cast their vote for this year's winner by visiting paycom.com/jim-thorpe-award/ and selecting the player of their choice. The top vote getting in the fan poll will receive one additional vote towards the overall committee results. Voting closes at midnight on December 9.

"Roy was an obvious choice to present this year's award for a number of reasons," said President of the OSHOF Mike James. "His name resonates so strongly with fans of the game locally as well as nationally, and as a former recipient of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, we are excited to see him back on that stage presenting to this year's winner."

The Home Depot College Football Awards Show Presented by Gildan is an invitation-only event. The 28th annual "College Football Awards" show is a two-hour TV event that will air live on ESPN from the College Football Hall of Fame on December 12.

About the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented to the outstanding defensive back in college football each year on ESPN and is the OSHOF's most distinguished national honor. Established in 1986, this accolade is based on performance, athletic ability and character.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the sport's most prestigious honors. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now boast more than 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit NCFAA.org to learn more.

About Paycom

As a leader in payroll and HR technology, Oklahoma City-based Paycom redefines the human capital management industry by allowing companies to effectively navigate a rapidly changing business environment. Its cloud-based software solution is based on a core system of record maintained in a single database for all human capital management functions, providing the functionality that businesses need to manage the complete employment life cycle, from recruitment to retirement. Paycom has the ability to serve businesses of all sizes and in every industry. As one of the leading human capital management providers, Paycom serves clients in all 50 states from offices across the country. For more information, visit Paycom.com.


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