The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 3/3/3 Football’s Barron earns Jim Thorpe Award National Player of the Week
11.19.2024 | Football
The senior defensive back was named the Jim Thorpe Award’s National Player of the Week on Tuesday. Earlier this week, he was also recognized as the SEC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football senior defensive back Jahdae Barron was named the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award's National Player of the Week, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Earlier this month, Barron was named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist for the second-consecutive year.
In addition to earning the Thorpe Award's National Player of the Week, Barron was also recognized as the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Reese's Senior Bowl's Defensive Player of the Week.
The Austin, Texas, product helped Texas secure a 20-10 road win at Arkansas on Nov. 16. The victory clinched UT's 10th-straight true road win – the longest active streak in the FBS.
Behind Barron's leadership, Texas tops the FBS in total defense (249.0 ypg) and passing yards allowed (136.7 ypg). The Longhorns also rank second nationally and lead the SEC in passing efficiency defense (91.19), and first down defense (148). Texas leads the SEC and ranks fourth in scoring defense (11.9 ppg), leads the SEC and ranks seventh in passes intercepted (15), are sixth in the nation in turnovers gained (22), and 13th in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.310). As a team, the defense limited Arkansas to 231 total yards, 149 passing yards and 82 rushing yards with the total yards and passing yards being their lowest outputs of the season, and the rushing yards the second lowest. The Razorbacks entered the game ranking fifth nationally in total offense (483.6), 11th in passing offense (292.3), and 32nd in rushing offense (191.2).
In the win against the Razorbacks, Barron compiled seven tackles (six solo), including one sack and two tackles for loss, along with a tone-setting interception, one pass breakup and one QB hurry. Barron's interception came a little over five minutes into the game at the Texas 39-yard line, and from there, the offense went on to score the first points of the game on a touchdown for a 7-0 lead, which the Longhorns would not relinquish the rest of the game. On the very next series, Barron secured a tackle for loss on a 3rd-and-3 to provide a three-and-out. Barron later posted a sack on the last play of the first half with 19 seconds remaining to ensure Arkansas would not have a scoring opportunity from their 38-yard line, and that Texas would maintain a 10-0 halftime lead. Barron disrupted the quarterback again in a critical situation in the fourth quarter. With the Longhorns leading, 13-7, and Arkansas close to the red zone on the Texas 26, Barron pressured an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-10 that forced a field goal to keep the game at 13-10. The Longhorns then extended their lead back to 20-10 on the next offensive possession. Barron now has four interceptions, which rank seventh nationally and lead the SEC, while his 12 passes defended are 13th in the nation and second in the SEC.
A fifth-year defensive back, Barron has played in 51 career games with 33 starts. Along with being selected as a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, Barron is also a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player. Prior to the 2024 season, he was named preseason second-team All-SEC on defense and selected to the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurksi Trophy and Bednarik Award. Barron is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the nation, consistently playing multiple positions in the Texas defensive backfield, while providing leadership as a fifth-year veteran.
Barron and Texas face Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 23, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ABC with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) on the call.
