The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Barron named Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist
10.31.2023 | Football
Texas senior DB Jahdae Barron was named a semifinalist for the award that honors the top defensive back in college football.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Texas Football senior defensive back Jahdae Barron has been named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday. The Thorpe 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.
A native of Austin, Texas, Barron has appeared in all eight games this season with six starts. On the year, he has tallied 42 tackles (21 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery and deflected a pass against BYU that was intercepted by Terrance Brooks, setting up a Texas touchdown. The senior ranks second among Longhorns in tackles and pass breakups, third in solo tackles, and fourth in solo tackles and interceptions.
Barron's first-quarter interception against Alabama set the tone for the game, ending then-third-ranked Crimson Tide's initial drive to set up the first score of the game for Texas in the Longhorns' 34-24 on the road victory. He had a team-leading and season-high 11 tackles against both Wyoming and Oklahoma. After missing the first half at Houston, Barron entered in the second half and recorded four tackles (two solo) and had a pass breakup on the Cougars' final offensive play of the game to seal the victory.
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 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame will announce the three finalists Tuesday, Nov. 28. The 2023 Jim Thrope Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 7, during The Home Depot College Football Awards
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2014, in Oklahoma City.
