The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorn DB duo named to Thorpe Award Watch List
07.05.2003 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas' senior secondary tandem of CB Nathan Vasher (Texarkana, Texas/Texas HS) and FS Dakarai Pearson (Dayton, Texas/Dayton HS) have been named to the 2003 Jim Thope Award's (nation's top defensive back) preseason watch list, the Jim Thorpe Award Association announced.
The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists the first Monday in November and then to three finalists the Monday before Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, broadcast live on ESPN from Disney World on December 11. The official presentation of the award will be in Oklahoma City on February 9.
Vasher, a member of last year's preseason Thorpe Award watch list, is entering his third season as a starter and ranks among the Longhorns all-time top 10 with 11 interceptions (T-No. 8 on the UT all-time list) and 38 pass breakups (No. 7 on UT's career list) in 34 (25 starts) career games. Vasher also has recorded 112 tackles (85 solo) and nine tackles for loss during his career. He tied the UT record for single-season interceptions (7) as a sophomore in 2001. Despite battling injuries in 2002, Vasher posted four interceptions and 15 pass breakups and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors.
Pearson also is entering his third year as a Longhorn starter. Tabbed UT's Most Consistent Defensive Player last season, Pearson has posted 147 tackles (89 solo), nine interceptions and 20 PBUs in 36 career games (24 starts). He registered 62 tackles, 13 PBUs and a team-high six interceptions (T-No. 6 on the UT all-time single-season list) last season.He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from the Austin American-Statesman that year. Pearson earned Freshman All-American honors after recording 47 stops, three interceptions and five PBUs as a redshirt freshman in 2000.
A Longhorn has never won the Thorpe Award, but UT has had a finalist and semifinalist the past two seasons. Longhorn CB Quentin Jammer, a 2002 first-round draft pick (San Diego Chargers), became Texas' first-ever finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2001. UT CB Rod Babers, a fourth-round pick of the New York Giants last spring, earned a spot among the semifinalists in 2002.
The Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back, is one of college football's most sought after and prestigious awards. It is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, but also was an awesome defensive back. Recognized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply as "The Legend", Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The watch list is derived through a point system based on All-American teams and Honorable Mentions published in at least six pre-season football magazines. A candidate must be listed as high as third-team All-American in at least one publication or as a fourth team or honorable mention in at least three of these publications. This list is not final. Players not on the list who have exceptional seasons may be added at a later date. Kansas State CB Terence Newman won last year's Award.
