The Jim Thorpe Award

The Jim Thorpe Award is given each year by the Jim Thorpe Association to the best defensive back in college football. It is named after Oklahoma native Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest athletes of the early 20th century. Thorpe was a two-time Walter Camp All-American (1911-1912) while playing at the Carlisle Indian Institute in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The award was created in 1986 by Jim Thorpe Association Executive Director W. Lynne Draper and an Oklahoma City talk show host named Ed Sossen. The past winners of the award are listed here.

2008: Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State
2007: Antoine Cason Arizona
2006: Aaron Ross Texas
2005: Michael Huff Texas
2004: Carlos Rogers Auburn
2003: Derrick Strait Oklahoma
2002: Terrence Newman Kansas State
2001: Roy Williams Oklahoma
2000: Jamar Fletcher Wisconsin
1999: Tyrone Carter Minnesota
1998: Antoine Winfield Ohio State
1997: Charles Woodson Michigan
1996: Lawrence Wright Florida
1995: Greg Meyers Colorado State
1994: Chris Hudson Colorado
1993: Antonio Langham Alabama
1992: Deon Figures Colorado
1991: Terrell Buckley Florida State
1990: Darryll Lewis Arizona
1989: Mark Carrier USC
1988: Deion Sanders Florida State
1987: Bennie Blades Miami
1987: Rickey Dixon Oklahoma
1986: Thomas Everett Baylor