For the third time this offseason, Shaun Wade has been named to a watch list for a national award.

Wade, who was previously named to the watch lists for both the Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy, was named Monday to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors college football's best defensive back.

Going into his redshirt junior season at Ohio State, Wade is expected to be one of the frontrunners for the Thorpe Award as he moves to the outside cornerback position where Jeff Okudah was a Thorpe Award finalist and unanimous All-American last season.

“He should be a Thorpe Award finalist right off the get-go,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in January. “He's got a chance to be one of the best corners in the country and hopefully a first-round draft pick next year.”

Wade is one of four Big Ten defensive backs on the Thorpe Award's 49-player watch list, along with Wisconsin safety Eric Burrell, Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas and Penn State safety Lamont Wade.

Ohio State has two previous winners of the Thorpe Award: Malcolm Jenkins in 2008 and Antoine Winfield in 1998.