Florida Gator sophomore safety Matt Elam has been added to the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award watch list. The award is given to the best defensive back in the Nation.

Elam played in every game last season for the Gators, collecting 22 tackles (16 of those were solo), and was the top secondary player. Not to mention Elam saw plenty of playing time out on special teams.

The watch list is created by the Jim Thorpe Awards committee and has 37 players throughout the Nation on the list. The winner will be announced on December 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN. Good luck to Matt Elam and all other players.