The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Elliott named 2017 Thorpe Award finalist
11.20.2017 | Football
The junior safety is one of three finalists for the award given to the nation’s top defensive back.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Texas junior defensive back DeShon Elliott was named a finalist for the 2017 Jim Thorpe Award, announced on Monday afternoon. The Thorpe Award has a long history with The University of Texas, as both Michael Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006) won the award. Additionally, Quentin Jammer (2001) and Earl Thomas (2009) have been finalists for the prestigious award.
Elliott is having a standout season for the Longhorns, as he ranks second nationally with six interceptions, and first nationally with two interceptions returned for a touchdown. His six interceptions are the most at UT since Earl Thomas had eight in 2009 (Thorpe Award finalist).
A native of Rockwall, Texas, Elliott is just the second player in school history (since 1947 when records are available) to record three multi-interception games in a career, two of which came in back-to-back games this season. He became the first Longhorn to record consecutive multi-interception games, as he had two at both USC and Iowa State. In that time period, Elliott is just the ninth player in school history with two multi-interception games in a season.
Elliott has not only shown off his ball skills at safety for the Texas defense, but also his physical nature. He has totaled 52 tackles (third on team) with 39 of them being solo stops. He has 8.5 tackles for loss (second on team) and 1.5 sacks. He also has forced a team-best three fumbles this season to go along with a fumble recovery and five pass breakups (tied for team lead).
Texas' defensive secondary, led by Elliott, has limited some of the nation's top passers and receivers this season well below their season averages. Last week, WVU's Biletnikoff finalist David Sills totaled just two catches for 47 yards and no scores. He entered the game with 18 touchdown catches on the season. Texas also limited Oklahoma State's Biletnikoff finalist James Washington to four catches for 42 yards and no scores.
He has been an integral part of the Longhorns' much-improved defense. UT is allowing just 21.2 points per game (32nd), 109.6 rush yards per game (8th) and is ranked fourth nationally in both third- and fourth-down defense. The Longhorn defense has held some of the nation's top scoring teams in check, also, as they shutout San Jose State, held Baylor and Iowa State to seven points, held Oklahoma State to 10 in regulation and 13 total, and then held WVU to just 14 points Saturday, seven of which came on a Mountaineer pick-6.
The award is presented to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Established in 1986 and named after history's greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe, the award will be presented at The Home Depot College Football Awards in Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 7.
