Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
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Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Winners

Year Winner School Position Height Weight Home Town
2025 Caleb Downs Ohio State , Jr. S 6-0 205 Hoschton, Ga.
Finalists:
Mansoor Delane, LSU, CB
Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, CB
2024 Jahdae Barron Texas , Sr. CB 5-11 200 Austin, Texas
Finalists:
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, S
Malaki Starks, Georgia, S
2023 Trey Taylor Air Force , Sr. S 6-10 210 Frisco, Texas
Finalists:
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, CB
Malaki Starks, Georgia, S
2022 Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson TCU , Sr. CB 5-9 180 Waco, Texas
Finalists:
Clark Phillips III, Utah , So., DB, 5-10, 183, Lakewood, Calif.
Devon Witherspoon, Illinois , Jr., DB, 6-0, 180, Pensacola, Fla.
2021 Coby Bryant Cincinnati , Gr. CB 6-0 198 Cleveland, Ohio
Finalists:
Verone McKinley III, Oregon, So., S, 5-11, 194, Carrollton, Texas
Jalen Pitre, Baylor, Sr., S, 6-0, 197, Stafford, Texas
2020 Trevon Moerhig TCU , Jr. S 6-2 202 Spring Branch, Texas
Finalists:
Richie Grant, South Florida, S
Patrick Surtain II, Alabama, CB
2019 Grant Delpit LSU , Jr. DB 6-3 203 Houston, Texas
Finalists:
Jeff Okudah, Ohio State, DB
J.R. Reed, Georgia, DB
2018 DeAndre Baker Georgia , Sr. CB 5-11 185 Miami, Fla.
Finalists:
Julian Love, Notre Dame, CB
Greedy Williams, LSU, CB
2017 Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama , Jr. DB 6-1 202 Old Bridge, N.J.
Finalists:
DeShon Elliot, Texas, DB
Josh Jackson, Iowa, DB
2016 Adoree' Jackson USC , Jr. DB 5-11 185 Belleville, Ill.
Finalists:
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan, DB
Tre'Davious White, LSU, DB
2015 Desmond King Iowa , Jr. DB 5-11 200 Detroit, Mich.
Finalists:
Jeremy Cash, Duke, DB
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, DB
2014 Gerod Holliman Lousiville , So. DB 6-2 213 Miami, Fla.
Finalists:
Landon Collins, Alabama, DB
Trae Waynes, Michigan State, DB
2013 Darqueze Dennard Michigan State , Sr. CB 5-11 197 Dry Branch, Ga.
Finalists:
Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State, CB
Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State, S
2012 Johnthan Banks Mississippi State , Sr. DB 6-2 185 Maben, Miss.
Finalists:
Dee Milliner, Alabama, DB
Phillip Thomas, Fresno State, DB
2011 Morris Claiborne LSU , Jr. CB 6-0 185 Shreveport, La.
Finalists:
David Amerson, N.C. State, CB
Mark Barron, Alabama, SS
2010 Patrick Peterson LSU , Jr. CB 6-1 222 Pompano Beach, Fla.
Finalists:
Prince Amukamara, Nebraska, CB
Tejay Johnson, TCU, S
2009 Eric Berry Tennessee , Jr. S 5-11 203 Fairburn, Ga.
Finalists:
Joe Haden, Florida, DB
Earl Thomas, Texas, DB
2008 Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State , Sr. DB 6-1 201 Piscataway, N.J.
Finalists:
Eric Berry, Tennessee, DB
Taylor Mays, USC, DB
2007 Antoine Cason Arizona , Sr. DB 6-0 190 Long Beach, Calif.
Finalists:
Jamie Silva, Boston College, DB
Craig Steltz, LSU, DB
2006 Aaron Ross Texas , Sr. DB 6-1 192 Tyler, Texas
Finalists:
Leon Hall, Michigan, DB
Reggie Nelson, Florida, DB
2005 Michael Huff Texas , Sr. DB 6-1 205 Irving, Texas
Finalists:
Tye Hill, Clemson, DB
Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech, DB
2004 Carlos Rogers Auburn , Sr. DB 6-1 200 Augusta, Ga.
Finalists:
Antrel Rolle, Miami, DB
Ernest Shazor, Michigan, DB
2003 Derrick Strait Oklahoma , Sr. DB 5-11 195 Austin, Texas
Finalists:
Keiwan Ratliff, Florida, DB
Sean Taylor, Miami, DB
2002 Terence Newman Kansas State , Sr. CB 5-11 185 Salina, Kan.
Finalists:
Mike Doss, Ohio State, DB
Troy Polamalu, USC, DB
2001 Roy Williams Oklahoma , Jr. S 6-0 215 Union City, Calif.
Finalists:
Quentin Jammer, Texas, DB
Ed Reed, Miami, DB
2000 Jamar Fletcher Wisconsin , Jr. DB 5-10 176 St. Louis, Mo.
Finalists:
Dwight Smith, Akron, DB
Fred Smoot, Mississippi State, DB
1999 Tyrone Carter Minnesota , Sr. DB 5-9 184 Pompano Beach, Fla.
Finalists:
Deon Grant, Tennessee, DB
Brian Urlacher, New Mexico, DB
1998 Antoine Winfield Ohio State , Sr. DB 5-9 180 Akron, Ohio
Finalists:
Champ Bailey, Georgia, DB
Chris McAlister, Arizona, DB
1997 Charles Woodson Michigan , Jr. CB 6-1 197 Fremont, Ohio
Finalists:
Dre Bly, North Carolina, DB
Fred Weary, Florida, DB
1996 Lawrence Wright Florida , Sr. DB 6-1 212 Miami, Fla.
Finalists:
Dre Bly, North Carolina, DB
Chris Canty, Kansas State, DB
Charles Woodson, Michigan, DB
1995 Greg Myers Colorado State , Sr. DB 6-3 195 Windsor, Colo.
Finalists:
Chris Canty, Kansas State, DB
Lawyer Milloy, Washington, DB
1994 Chris Hudson Colorado , Sr. DB 5-11 190 Houston, Texas
Finalists:
Greg Myers, Colorado State, DB
Chris Shelling, Auburn, DB
1993 Antonio Langham Alabama , Sr. DB 6-1 170 Town Creek, Ala.
Finalists:
Aaron Glenn, Texas A&M, DB
Bobby Taylor, Notre Dame, DB
1992 Deon Figures Colorado , Sr. DB 6-1 195 Compton, Calif.
Finalists:
Patrick Bates, Texas A&M, DB
Carlton McDonald, Air Force, DB
1991 Terrell Buckley Florida State , Jr. CB 5-10 175 Pascagoula, Miss.
Finalists:
Dale Carter, Tennessee, DB
Troy Vincent, Wisconsin, DB
1990 Darryl Lewis Arizona , Sr. DB 5-9 186 West Covina, Calif.
Finalists:
Nathan LaDuke, Arizona State, DB
Ken Swilling, Georgia Tech, DB
1989 Mark Carrier USC , Jr. DB 6-1 185 Long Beach, Calif.
Finalists:
Nathan LaDuke, Arizona State, DB
Todd Lyght, Notre Dame, DB
1988 Deion Sanders Florida State , Sr. CB 6-0 195 Fort Myers, Fla.
Finalists:
Steve Atwater, Arkansas, DB
Louis Oliver, Florida, DB
1987 Bennie Blades (co-winner) Miami , Sr. S 6-0 207 Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
1987 Rickey Dixon (co-winner) Oklahoma , Sr. DB 5-10 187 Dallas, Texas
Finalists:
Chris Carrier, LSU, DB
Chuck Cecil, Arizona, DB
Todd Krumm, Michigan State, DB
Gordie Lockbaum, Holy Cross, DB
Markus Paul, Syracuse, DB
Deion Sanders, Florida State, CB
David Vickers , Oklahoma, DB
James Washington, UCLA, DB
1986 Thomas Everett Baylor , Sr. DB 5-9 180 Daingerfield, Texas
Finalists:
Mark Moore, Oklahoma State, DB
Rod Woodson, Purdue, DB

Award Info

2025 Key Dates
Watch List: Wed., Jul 30
Semifinalists: Tue., Oct 28
Finalists: Tue., Nov 25
Winner: Fri., Dec 12

Presentation Banquet: Tue., Feb 10
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Oklahoma City, Okla.
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