The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Boyd, Sterns named Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists
10.22.2018 | Football
Kris Boyd and Caden Sterns are semifinalists for 2018 Jim Thorpe Award.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Texas Football's Kris Boyd and Caden Sterns were named semifinalists for the 2018 the Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced on Monday. The award is presented to college football's top defensive back. Texas has a long history with the Thorpe Award, which was first presented in 1986. Michael Huff and Aaron Ross won it in back-to-back seasons (2005-06) and three others have been named finalists for the award (Quentin Jammer, Earl Thomas, DeShon Elliott).
Boyd, a native of Gilmer, Texas, has started all seven games at cornerback in 2018. He is fifth on the Longhorns with 30 tackles (24 solo) and has two tackles for loss with a sack. He leads the team with nine pass breakups (T-12th nationally) and has also added an interception. For his career, Boyd has 29 pass breakups, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Sterns, a native of Cibolo, Texas, has started all seven games at safety in 2018. He has four interceptions, tied for the most in school history by a freshman and has 26 tackles (19 solo). He also has a pass breakup and blocked a field goal against USC, that was returned for a touchdown. In a game against TCU, Sterns had two interceptions, becoming just the third Longhorn true freshman ever with two interceptions in a game. For that effort, he was named Thorpe Award Player of the Week.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football. The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award was established in 1986 and is named after the greatest all-around athlete in history, Jim Thorpe. As a native Oklahoman, Thorpe excelled not only as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The 2018 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, December 6, 2018, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in Oklahoma City.
