STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; July 29, 2004 - Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis (Rochester, N.Y.) has been named to the Watch List for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the nation's top defensive back.

A junior this fall, Zemaitis is one of five Big Ten student-athletes on the 29-player list.

Zemaitis had a break-out sophomore campaign in 2003. He started 11 of 12 games at cornerback and led the Big Ten and was among the national leaders with 18 passes defended. He tied for fourth in the conference with four interceptions, returning one 78 yards for a touchdown and another 90 yards to set up a score. His 207 interception return yards broke the Penn State and Big Ten season records. The 6-2, 194-pounder ranked fourth on the team with 71 tackles and was third with 49 solo stops. He also caused a fumble and recorded one tackle for loss in 2003.

His top games last year included seven tackles, two pass break-ups and an interception against Boston College; a career-high tying 12 tackles at Nebraska; an interception and season-high four pass break-ups against Kent State; and 11 tackles (10 solo), one pass break-up and a caused fumble against Iowa.

An all-state player at Spencerport Central High School, Zemaitis established himself as one of the top cover men in the Big Ten last year.

During his career, Zemaitis has collected 83 tackles, four interceptions, two tackles for loss and a caused fumble.

The pre-season watch list of Thorpe Award candidates will be researched and analyzed by the Jim Thorpe Association Screening Committee throughout the season. The screening committee will announce 10 semifinalists the first week in November and then name the three finalists on Nov. 22. The names of the three finalists will be submitted to the Jim Thorpe Award's National Selection Committee to determine the winner. All three finalists will be invited to ESPN's College Football Awards Show, December 9, in Orlando, Fla. The winner will be announced during the show with the formal award presentation taking place in Oklahoma City, Okla. on February 8, 2005.

Former Nittany Lion David Macklin was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 1999 and James Boyd was a semifinalist in 2000. Bryan Scott was Penn State's most recent player named to the watch list in 2002.

Coach Joe Paterno's squad returns 15 starters and will open the season on September 4, hosting Akron at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium.