story link
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas football senior defensive back Jahday Barron has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 PAYCOM Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Thursday. This award is given annually to the most outstanding defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athleticism, and character.
Baron becomes the third Longhorn to win the award, following back-to-back honors for safety Michael Huff (2005) and cornerback Aaron Ross (2006). Barron was the program’s sixth finalist. This season, Barron was also named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Texas currently ties LSU and Oklahoma State for the most Thorpe Award winners of all time with three wins each.
Barron has proven to be one of the nation’s elite defensive players this season. The fifth-year defensive back has played in 54 career games, starting 36 of them. Following Texas’ 20-10 road victory over Arkansas on Nov. 16, Barron was named Thorpe Award Player of the Week, SEC Defensive Player of the Week, and Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week. Selected as a player. Prior to the 2024 season, he was named to the preseason defensive second team All-SEC and was named to the Bronco Nagursi Trophy and Bednarik Award preseason watch list. Barron is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the nation, consistently playing multiple positions in Texas’ defensive backfield while providing leadership as a fifth-year veteran. The Austin, Texas, native led the Longhorns in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (9) through 13 games, totaling 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 quarterback rush, Recorded one forced fumble. Barron paces the SEC in total interceptions this season and ranks third in the FBS.
The Austin, Texas, native plays a key role in a dominant Texas defense that leads the FBS in several categories, including turnovers (28) and passing yards (143.1 ypg). . Additionally, Texas ranks second in the FBS in scoring defense (12.5 ypg) and team pass efficiency defense (95.19), and third in pass interceptions (19) and total defense (249.5 ypg). The Horns also rank fifth nationally in first down defense (196), sixth in third down conversion rate defense (30.6 percent), seventh in red zone defense (71.4 percent), and 12th in team tackles for loss (7.3). He ranks 15th in rushing. The Longhorns have allowed only four passing touchdowns through 13 games, tied for the fewest in the FBS and the same as any program. Fewest passing touchdowns given up in a season (1972). UT closed out the regular season by shutting out its opponents in the first half in three of its past four games (all were conference opponents).
UT also leads the nation in opponent passing yards per attempt, holding opponents to just 5.10 passing yards per attempt. Texas is also the only team in the FBS to hold opponents to nine yards per completion (8.61). The Longhorns have forced at least one turnover in 21 straight games, and have forced multiple turnovers in eight of those games.
Texas earned the No. 3 spot in the CFP voting and the No. 5 overall seed, making it to the College Football Playoff for the second time in as many years. The Horns will face No. 13/13/16 Clemson in the first round of the CFP on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. CT inside Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The fight will be broadcast via call on TNT by Dave Pash (commentary), Dusty Dvoracek (color analyst), Taylor McGregor (reporter) and Laura Rutledge (reporter). The first-round winner will advance to the CFP quarterfinals of the 57th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl to face Big 12 champion and No. 4 seed Arizona State at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2025 at noon in Connecticut. do. Atlanta. The game will be broadcast on the ABC/ESPN platform.
