10/27/2026 9:00 AM | Football
Cal Safety One Of 15 Named To Short List From Across The Nation
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association have announced California football player Kingston Lopa as a semifinalist for the prestigious Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Lopa is one of 15 players from across the nation to be added to the short list for the coveted award given to the country's top defensive back each year.
To be considered for the distinction, players are evaluated based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Established in 1986 and part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's 25 most prestigious awards, the honor was named after Jim Thorpe, who is regarded as one of history's greatest athletes. The award finalists will be announced on November 24 as part of a special presentation by ESPN.
Lopa is the third Golden Bear in program history to be named a Thorpe Award semifinalist, along with 2024 Consensus All-American Nohl Williams and 2006 Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and consensus First-Team All-American Daymeion Hughes.
Lopa has led the nation in interceptions for seven-straight weeks. He has intercepted five passes this season, three of which came in Cal's win over Syracuse, making him the first Bear to record three interceptions in a single game since Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted three passes against TCU at the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
Lopa has a combined 104 interception return yards this season, which includes a 24-yard scamper for a go-ahead touchdown at Syracuse. It was the first pick-six of his career and the first by a Bear since Williams' 40-yard interception return for a score against Miami on October 5, 2025.
He has added 37 tackles, 29 of which have been credited as solo tackles, to the stat sheet this season. Lopa also took snaps at wide receiver this past weekend at SMU and recorded the first reception of his collegiate career on an 11-yard grab against the Mustangs.
A native of Sacramento where he attended Grant High School, Lopa transferred to Cal this season after spending two years with Oregon. He was rated as the nation's No. 8 safety and No. 145 player overall in the 2026 transfer portal by 247Sports.
