Is Thomas UTs next Thorpe winner

Earlier this month the Jim Thorpe screening committee announced 12 semifinalists for the award given to the nation's top defensive back. The group of 12 will be narrowed to three finalists on November 23 and the winner will be announced on nationally TV during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 10.

Here's a look at the Orangebloods.com Thorpe Award Power Poll. We'll update the list each week throughout the rest of the season.

1. Earl Thomas, So., Texas

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Thomas has 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, six interceptions (3rd nationally), two touchdowns, a forced fumble and 13 pass breakups/defended (9th nationally).

Last week: Thomas had five tackles, half of a tackle for loss and a pass break-up in a 47-14 win over Baylor.

Signature moment: Thomas had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and three pass break-ups in a 16-13 win over Oklahoma.

2. Javier Arenas, Sr., Alabama

Stats: Through nine games this season, Arenas has 54 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass break-ups and three quarterback hits.

Last week: Arenas had two tackles and a quarterback hit in Alabama's 31-3 win over Mississippi State.

Signature moment: Arenas was everywhere in Alabama's 12-10 win over Tennessee, recording 14 tackles (eight solo), 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

3. Eric Berry, Jr., Tennessee

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Berry has 70 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and eight pass break-ups.

Last week: Berry had eight tackles (three solo) in Tennessee's 42-17 loss to Ole Miss.

Signature moment: Berry had 11 tackles and an interception off of Tim Tebow in Tennessee's 23-13 loss at Florida.

4. Joe Haden, Jr., Florida

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Haden has 55 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and six pass break-ups.

Last week: Haden was dominant in Florida's destruction of South Carolina, as he recorded 11 tackles, an interception, two forced fumbles, a sack and a pass break-up.

Signature moment: Last week's performance against the Gamecocks.

5. Tyler Sash, So., Iowa

Stats: Through 11 games this season, Sash has 76 tackles (31st nationally), 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions (3rd nationally), two forced fumbles and 16 pass breakups/defended.

Last week: Sash had six tackles in Iowa's 20-17 loss at Ohio State.

Signature moment: Sash recorded a season-high 10 tackles, and also tied an Iowa record back in a September win over Iowa State with three interceptions.

6. Perrish Cox, Sr., Oklahoma State

Stats: Through eight games this season, Cox has 32 tackles, a sack, four interceptions (17th nationally) and 19 pass break-ups/defended (No.1 nationally).

Last week: Cox had four tackles, a sack, two interceptions and three pass break-ups in a 24-17 win over Texas Tech.

Signature moment: It's last week's performance by a mile.

7. Brandon Harris, So., Miami (FL)

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Harris has 46 tackles, five tackles for loss, an interception, a sack, two forced fumbles, and 13 pass break-ups (8th nationally).

Last week: Harris had one tackle in Miami's 33-24 loss to North Carolina

Signature moment: Harris had four tackles, a forced fumble and a sack in a 21-20 win over Oklahoma.

8. Barry Church, Sr., Toledo

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Church has 90 tackles (31st nationally), 7.5 tackles for loss, one interception, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks and five pass break-ups.

Last week: Church had eight tackles in a 56-28 loss to Central Florida.

Signature moment: Church had 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and a pass break-up in Toledo's 37-30 win over Ball State.

9. Kyle Wilson, Sr., Boise State

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Wilson has 30 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and five pass breakups/defended (No.1 in the nation).

Last week: Wilson had four tackles and a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown in a blowout win over Idaho.

Signature moment: Wilson only had three tackles against Oregon, so it would likely be last week's interception return.

10. Taylor Mays, Sr., USC

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Mays has 55 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and three pass break-ups.

Last week: Mays had 11 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up in USC's 55-21 loss to Stanford.

Signature moment: Mays led USC's defense with eight tackles in their 18-15 win over Ohio State.

11. Darrell Stuckey, Sr., Kansas

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Stuckey has 73 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a sack, one forced fumble, and five pass breakups/defended.

Last week: Stuckey had 11 tackles in a 31-17 loss to Nebraska.

Signature moment: Stuckey had 12 tackles, an interception and a pass break-up in a 34-30 loss to Colorado.

12. Alterraun Verner, Sr., UCLA

Stats: Through 10 games this season, Verner has 60 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions, three pass breakups/defended.

Last week: Verner had two tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass break-up in a 43-7 win over Washington State.

Signature moment: Verner had six tackles and an interception in a 19-15 win over Tennessee.