CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Elon senior Blake Thompson has earned a spot the preseason watch list for the 2012 CFPA Linebacker Award.

Thompson is one of four Southern Conference linebackers on the initial watch list.

Thompson made the move to linebacker from defensive back this spring.  In 10 games in 2011 he amassed 60 tackles, the second-highest total on the team.  He also had 6.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and two interceptions during his junior campaign.  Thompson made a career-high 13 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, in a win over The Citadel.  He recorded picks against both Western Carolina and Samford.

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.