Texas Football senior defensive back Jahdae Barron was named the winner of the 2024 PAYCOM Jim Thorpe Award, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced.
The award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
Barron becomes the third Longhorn to win the award with safety Michael Huff (2005) and cornerback Aaron Ross (2006) taking it home in back-to-back years. Barron was the program's sixth finalist for the award. This season, Barron was also named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Texas has now tied LSU and Oklahoma with the most Thorpe Award winners all-time with three apiece.
Barron has proven to be one of the nation's elite defensive players this season. A fifth-year defensive back, he has played in 54 career games with 36 starts. Following Texas' 20-10 road win at Arkansas on Nov. 16, Barron was recognized as the Thorpe Award's National Player of the Week, the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the Reese's Senior Bowl's Defensive Player of the Week. 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. Through 13 games, the Austin, Texas, native leads the Longhorns in interceptions (5) and pass break-ups (9) to go along with 47 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble. Barron paces the SEC and ranks third in the FBS in total interceptions this season.
The Austin, Texas, native plays an integral role in a dominant Texas defense that leads the FBS in several categories, including turnovers gained (28) and passing yards allowed (143.1 ypg). In addition, Texas ranks No. 2 in the FBS in scoring defense (12.5 ppg) and team passing efficiency defense (95.19) while sitting third in passes intercepted (19) and total defense (249.5 ypg). The Horns also rank fifth nationally in first down defense (196), sixth in third-down conversion percentage defense (30.6 percent), seventh in red zone defense (71.4 percent), 12th in team tackles for loss (7.3) and 15th in rushing defense (106.4).The Longhorns have given up just four passing touchdowns through 13 games, which ties for the fewest in the FBS and shares the program's single-season record for fewest passing touchdowns surrendered in a season (1972). UT shut out opponents in the first half in three of the last four games to cap the regular season – all conference opponents.
UT also leads the nation in opponent passing yards per attempt, limiting opposing teams to just 5.10 yards per attempt. Texas is also the only team in the FBS to hold opponents to under nine yards per completion (8.61). The Longhorns have forced at least one turnover in 21-consecutive games, including eight-straight games forcing multiple turnovers.
Texas will be making its second College Football Playoff appearance in as many years after earning a No. 3 ranking in the CFP poll and the No. 5 overall seed. The Horns will host No. 13/13/16 Clemson at 3 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 21, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in the CFP first round. The game will broadcast on TNT with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (color analyst), Taylor McGregor (reporter) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) on the call. The first-round winner will advance to the CFP Quarterfinal at the 57th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and face the Big 12 Champion and No. 4 seed Arizona State at Noon C.T. on Jan. 1, 2025, in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will air on an ABC/ESPN platform.
