Mississippi State Football: Emmanuel Forbes robbed of Jim Thorpe award finalist

Mississippi State football cornerback, Emmanuel Forbes, was robbed of a finalist spot on the Jim Thorpe award list.

The Jim Thorpe award released its finalists on Tuesday morning, and Mississippi State football cornerback, Emmanuel Forbes, did not make that list.

Here is the list of three finalists:

Clark Phillips III out of Utah

Tre’Vius Hodges out of TCU

Devon Witherspoon out of Illinois

All three finalists had great seasons, but none have as good of statistics as Emmanuel Forbes.

Emmanuel Forbes’s season statistics:

• 6 Interceptions
• 15 Pass Defended
• 3 Pick-sixes

Those are stats that deserve to be on the finalist list. It’s disappointing to see one of the best cornerbacks that have ever come through Mississippi State’s football program be disrespected in such a way.

I believe this is just as much a disrespectful statement to Mississippi State University. The Jim Thorpe award just proved that you have to be a part of a “bigger name school” to be on this list.

Mississippi State football finished the season 8-4 and all four of Mississippi State’s losses could not be blamed on the defense. Much of that had to do with Emmanuel Forbes’ lockdown coverage.

Many teams’ offenses this season would not even look Emmanuel Forbes’ way. This says a lot about his coverage, and his ability to pick the ball off.

Emmanuel Forbes holds the SEC career record for most pick-sixes by any player. What an accomplishment. An accomplishment that you think would receive the recognition it deserves with a finalist spot on the Jim Thorpe award list.

Forbes would find himself on the semifinalist Jim Thorpe award list, but many analysts and fans thought he would be a shoo-in for the winner of the award. Honestly, this is disappointing, disrespectful, and a disgrace to cornerbacks at Mississippi State University and around the country.