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Cal cornerback Nohl Williams was announced as one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award today. The award goes to the top defensive back in college football each season. Williams, who leads the nation with 6 interceptions, is the only player from the ACC still in the running with a month left in the regular season. This list, which could change by the end of the regular season, will be narrowed down to three players that will be announced Nov. 26.

Daymeion Hughes is the only other Cal player to ever reach the semifinalist level for the Thorpe Award back in 1999 when he was a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year for the Bears after collecting 8 interceptions. Deltha O'Neal holds the single-season program record for interceptions with nine, which he accomplished in 1999.

Williams is currently tied with Jaylinn Hawkins for sixth in program history with his 6 INTs this year.

Earlier this season, Williams has named ACC Defensive Back of the Week following a stellar performance against Auburn.

Here's the rest of the semifinalists:

Jahdae Barron, Texas, Sr.
Jalen Catalon, UNLV, Sr.
Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, So.
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina, Jr.
Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.
Will Johnson, Michigan, Jr.
Rayuan Lane III, Navy, Sr.
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, So.
Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon, Sr.
Xavier Scott, Illinois, Jr.
Terrence Spence, James Madison, Sr.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr.
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, Gr. Sr.

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Cal football posted its latest Bear Breakdown segment with Fernando Mendoza and Jaivian Thomas breaking down their lateral play that led to the first touchdown of the game Saturday. It's a fun watch!

I'd like to welcome Kenzo Fukuda to the Cal Rivals/Golden Bear Report team! Kenzo will be taking over as our basketball beat writer this season, and he will begin Tuesday with the first media session with Mark Madsen and players ahead of the opener next week. Kenzo comes to us from the Daily Californian where he covered football and women's basketball as a student reporter.

Ryan and I wanted to have someone dedicated to covering the team this year who is able to be on the ground for games and press conferences. I have been able to manage coming up for football games this season but it was not going to be feasible to make that trip for basketball season with as many games as there are on the schedule. So, we are THRILLED to have Kenzo in that role and believe you will see the benefits of having someone capable of being more hands on during basketball season.

Kenzo will introduce himself here soon, but he is a big Golden State Warriors fan and someone who is well versed in Cal Athletics during his time at the school covering the sports on campus for the Daily Cal.

Ryan and I will continue to help supplement basketball coverage here, but Kenzo will be your go-to reporter for this season. His focus will be the men's team, but I know he is eager and hopeful to also get an opportunity to bring coverage of the women's team at Cal as well. So, be on the lookout for that as well.

Maria set the bar high as our last reporter to make the jump from the Daily Cal to Golden Bear Report, and Kenzo comes highly recommended from Maria. So I know basketball coverage will be in great hands.

We're just super excited to have Kenzo aboard here, and hope you all get to know him some more as the season moves along.

You can follow Kenzo on X here!