Jim Thorpe Award

Given every year since 1986 to the top defensive back. LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas have won it most, three times each. Share

Every winner

Season	Player	Position		School
2025	Caleb Downs	S		Ohio State
2024	Jahdae Barron	CB		Texas
2023	Trey Taylor	FS		Air Force
2022	Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson	CB		TCU
2021	Coby Bryant	CB		Cincinnati
2020	Tre’von Moehrig	FS		TCU
2019	Grant Delpit	S		LSU
2018	Deandre Baker	CB		Georgia
2017	Minkah Fitzpatrick	S		Alabama
2016	Adoree’ Jackson	CB		USC
2015	Desmond King	CB		Iowa
2014	Gerod Holliman	S		Louisville
2013	Darqueze Dennard	CB		Michigan State
2012	Johnthan Banks	CB		Mississippi State
2011	Morris Claiborne	CB		LSU
2010	Patrick Peterson	CB		LSU
2009	Eric Berry	SS		Tennessee
2008	Malcolm Jenkins	CB		Ohio State
2007	Antoine Cason	CB		Arizona
2006	Aaron Ross	CB		Texas
2005	Michael Huff	SS		Texas
2004	Carlos Rogers	CB		Auburn
2003	Derrick Strait	CB		Oklahoma
2002	Terence Newman	CB		Kansas State
2001	Roy Williams	SS		Oklahoma
2000	Jamar Fletcher	CB		Wisconsin
1999	Tyrone Carter	S		Minnesota
1998	Antoine Winfield Sr.	CB		Ohio State
1997	Charles Woodson	CB		Michigan
1996	Lawrence Wright	FS		Florida
1995	Greg Myers	S		Colorado State
1994	Chris Hudson	DB		Colorado
1993	Antonio Langham	CB		Alabama
1992	Deon Figures	CB		Colorado
1991	Terrell Buckley	CB		Florida State
1990	Darryll Lewis	CB		Arizona
1989	Mark Carrier	S		USC
1988	Deion Sanders	CB		Florida State
1987	Rickey Dixon	S		Oklahoma
1987	Bennie Blades	S		Miami (FL)
1986	Thomas Everett	S		Baylor

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.