The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Gideon named to Thorpe Award preseason watch list
07.11.2011 | Football
July 11, 2011
Austin - Texas Longhorns senior S Blake Gideon has been named to the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list the Jim Thorpe Association announced today. The Thorpe Award is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive back. Originally established in 1986, the Jim Thorpe Award is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe, who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker and also starred as a defensive back for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
Gideon is a fourth-year player who has started all 39 games during his career at safety and has seen action on special teams. He is a three-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection and has posted 194 tackles (118 solo), eight INTs, 16 PBU, one sack, six TFL, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a blocked punt for his career. He started all 12 games in 2010 when he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors by posting 68 tackles (42 solo), two INTs, four PBU, one sack, three TFL, one forced fumble and one blocked punt. Gideon is also a two-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll (Spring 2009/Fall 2010).
Gideon joins 37 other student-athletes in vying for the Thorpe Award. The Jim Thorpe Award watch list is chosen by a screening committee but is not final, as players can be added during the season if they are having outstanding success.
Texas has had two winners of the Thorpe Award in its history in S Michael Huff and CB Aaron Ross, who won back-to-back in 2005 and 2006, respectively. UT has also had two finalists; S Earl Thomas in 2009 and CB Quentin Jammer in 2001, and two semifinalists; CB Nathan Vasher in 2003 and CB Rod Babers in 2002.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Jim Thorpe Award. The award will be announced Dec. 8, 2011, on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN. The 25th Annual Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 in Oklahoma City.
