The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jammer Named To Thorpe Award Watch List
08.24.2001 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas senior cornerback Quentin Jammer (Angleton, Texas) was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List on Thursday. Jammer, who was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season, enters the 2001 campaign as a consensus preseason All-American, including a spot on the prestigious Playboy All-America team.
Jammer is coming off a stellar junior season that saw him register 43 tackles (34 solo), three interceptions, 20 PBUs and four fumble recoveries. One of the hardest hitters in the nation, he helped lead the Longhorns defense to a national-best 88.3 pass efficiency rating a year ago and was named the country's top junior cornerback by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. Jammer enters his senior season in eighth place on UT's all-time pass breakups (33) and forced fumbles (eight) lists.
"It's certainly is a great honor to have my name listed among all of the great defensive backs around the country," Jammer said. "When I decided to forgo an opportunity to go to the NFL and return for my senior season, my goal was to help our team compete for a Big 12 Championship and hopefully a National Championship. I also wanted to leave my mark among the long line of great DBs in UT history and being named a candidate for the Thorpe Award is a good way to start."
Established in 1986, the Thorpe Award honors the nation's outstanding defensive back. The award is named after the legendary Jim Thorpe, who was a first-team Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American in 1911 and '12. Thorpe also won gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics, played professional baseball and was elected the first president of what would later become the National Football League in 1920.
The three finalists for this year's award will be named on Monday, Nov. 19, and this year's winner will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 6, during ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Past winners include Wisconsin's Jamar Fletcher (2000), Minnesota's Tyrone Carter (1999), Michigan's Charles Woodson (1997), Florida's Lawrence Wright (1996), Colorado State's Greg Myers (1995), Colorado's Chris Hudson (1994), Alabama's Antonio Langham (1993), Colorado's Deon Figures (1992), Florida State's Terrell Buckley (1991), Arizona's Darryll Lewis (1990), USC's Mark Carrier (1989), Florida State's Deion Sanders (1988), Miami's Bennie Blades and Oklahoma's Ricky Dixon (1987) and Baylor's Thomas Everett (1986).
