THE SIDELINES : USC’s Carrier a Thorpe Finalist

All-American Mark Carrier of USC is one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive back.

The other finalists are Todd Lyght of Notre Dame and Nathan LaDuke of Arizona State.

The finalists, all juniors, were selected by a 21-member committee. The award from the Jim Thorpe Athletic Club will be presented Jan. 15 at a banquet in Oklahoma City.

Carrier, a 6-1 free safety, had 97 tackles, recovered three fumbles and intercepted seven passes in 11 games for the Trojans, who will play Michigan in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Lyght, a 6-foot-1 cornerback, had 47 tackles, eight interceptions and one blocked punt for Notre Dame. As a free safety, LaDuke had 99 tackles, caused one fumble, recovered two fumbles and intercepted six passes. The 5-10 LaDuke also returned four punts for 27 yards and a kickoff for 19 yards.