The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football’s McDonald named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list
08.12.2026 | Football
The award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football senior defensive back Jelani McDonald was recognized on the preseason watch list for the 2026 Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association announced Wednesday. The award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
It marks the first time McDonald has earned a spot on the Thorpe Award watch list. Last season, former UT DB Michael Taaffe was a semifinalist for the award. Former Longhorn DB Jahdae Barron was the 2024 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, becoming the third Texas football player in program history to win the award. He joined Michael Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006), who won the award in back-to-back years. Texas is tied with LSU and Oklahoma for the most all-time Thorpe Award winners with three apiece.
McDonald, a preseason All-SEC Third Team honoree, is a fourth-year defensive back who has played in 39 career games with 17 starts. As a junior in 2025, McDonald started in all 13 games and led Texas in tackles with 80 (49 solo) and interceptions with three. The Waco, Texas, native also recorded 4.0 tackles for loss, three pass break-ups, one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery. In Texas' home opener vs. San Jose State on Sept. 6, 2025, McDonald registered two tackles (one solo), a pass break-up and recovered a fumble for 24 yards against the Spartans. He snared his second career interception and first of the season, returning it 16 yards in the victory over UTEP on Sept. 13. He added six tackles (three solo) against the Miners. McDonald posted two solo tackles, including one tackle for a loss of three yards, and his second interception of the season in the win over Sam Houston on Sept. 20. In UT's SEC opener at Florida on Oct. 4, McDonald totaled eight tackles (three solo) and followed that performance with an eight-tackle outing in Texas' Allstate Red River Rivalry win vs. No. 6/6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11 in Dallas. McDonald racked up nine solo tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss of 12 yards in the Horns' road win at Kentucky on Oct. 18. He then tallied a career-high 14 tackles (five solo) at Mississippi State on Oct. 25. McDonald recorded five tackles (three solo) vs. Arkansas on Nov. 22, including 1.0 tackle for a loss of three yards, and logged an interception that he returned for 11 yards vs. the Razorbacks. McDonald made nine tackles (six solo) in UT's 27-17 win vs. No. 3/3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28. McDonald capped the season with a seven-tackle (six solo) performance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against No. 18/17/18 Michigan on Dec. 31.
Semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Three finalists will be revealed on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and the winner of the 2026 Jim Thorpe Award will be announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN on Dec. 11.
Texas opens the 2026 season vs. Texas State at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 5, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ESPN.
