The four year starter at Kansas State University defensive back, Ty Zimmerman has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe award as the nation’s top defensive back, the Jim Thorpe Association announced Monday.

Zimmerman is only one of five from KSU to ever be selected and only the second safety from the school chosen for the award. He has started 43 games and is only 12 tackles shy of breaking the schools top-25 list.

Three finalists will be named November 25th, with the winner announced December 12th, on ESPN. The award is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City.