By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor football is hoping to produce another college football award winner Thursday night.
Senior Star Jalen Pitre is one of three finalists for the 37th Jim Thorpe Award that is bestowed upon the nation’s top defensive back. Pitre is competing against Cincinnati senior Coby Bryant and Oregon sophomore Verone McKinley III.
The award began in 1986 when Baylor’s Thomas Everett won it.
The College Football Awards Show begins at 6:00 p.m. Thursday on ESPN.
A victory would give Baylor its 13th individual award and first since wide receiver Corey Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) in 2015.
Let’s break down the candidates:
Coby Bryant, Sr., DB, Cincinnati
Stats: 32 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 3 INT (1TD), 11 PBU
Honors: Two-time All-American Athletic Conference first-team performer
Notable: Bryant played in a secondary that made things extremely tough for opposing passing games. Cincinnati’s defense had 18 interceptions as the Bearcats qualified for the College Football Playoff. A native of Cleveland, Bryant is considered one of the best cover corners in all of college football. It should be noted there is not an AP all-conference team for the American.
Verone McKinley III, DB, Oregon
Stats: 43 solo tackles, 28 assisted tackles, 6 INT, 6 PBU, 1 FF
Honors: First-team All-Pac 12 performer
Notable: The Texan, who played his high school football at Hebron, was second on the team in total tackles and second in solo tackles. He was usually assigned to the opposing team’s best receiver. He’s grooming himself to be an NFL prospect as he already has 11 Interceptions in his three seasons. It should be noted the AP All-Pac 12 team has not been released.
Jalen Pitre, Sr., Star, Baylor
Stats: 54 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INT, 7 PBU, 2 FF, 3 FR
Honors: Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (AP/Big 12); First-team All-Big 12 performer (AP/Big 12).
Notable: Embraced the Star position in head coach Dave Aranda’s defense. Recruited out of Stafford, he was used in blitzes and run support and created five turnovers between his interceptions and fumble recoveries. Wasn’t used as a true cover corner because of how he was used. However, wherever he was, Pitre made a difference in pass coverage for a Baylor defense that had 16 interceptions.
The Prediction
While Bryant and McKinley had tremendous seasons and were deserved first-team all-conference selections, Pitre has the differentiator with defensive player of the year honors. If the award selection committee is playing this letter to the law, maybe Pitre’s selection would be in jeopardy. But then again, it put him on the list and named him a finalist. To be honest, this really should be between Pitre and McKinley because of the productivity. Between fan voting and common sense, it would be hard to see how Pitre would not win this. He’s had the most complete season of the three.
Publisher
Baylor football is hoping to produce another college football award winner Thursday night.
Senior Star Jalen Pitre is one of three finalists for the 37th Jim Thorpe Award that is bestowed upon the nation’s top defensive back. Pitre is competing against Cincinnati senior Coby Bryant and Oregon sophomore Verone McKinley III.
The award began in 1986 when Baylor’s Thomas Everett won it.
The College Football Awards Show begins at 6:00 p.m. Thursday on ESPN.
A victory would give Baylor its 13th individual award and first since wide receiver Corey Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver) in 2015.
Let’s break down the candidates:
Coby Bryant, Sr., DB, Cincinnati
Stats: 32 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 3 INT (1TD), 11 PBU
Honors: Two-time All-American Athletic Conference first-team performer
Notable: Bryant played in a secondary that made things extremely tough for opposing passing games. Cincinnati’s defense had 18 interceptions as the Bearcats qualified for the College Football Playoff. A native of Cleveland, Bryant is considered one of the best cover corners in all of college football. It should be noted there is not an AP all-conference team for the American.
Verone McKinley III, DB, Oregon
Stats: 43 solo tackles, 28 assisted tackles, 6 INT, 6 PBU, 1 FF
Honors: First-team All-Pac 12 performer
Notable: The Texan, who played his high school football at Hebron, was second on the team in total tackles and second in solo tackles. He was usually assigned to the opposing team’s best receiver. He’s grooming himself to be an NFL prospect as he already has 11 Interceptions in his three seasons. It should be noted the AP All-Pac 12 team has not been released.
Jalen Pitre, Sr., Star, Baylor
Stats: 54 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INT, 7 PBU, 2 FF, 3 FR
Honors: Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (AP/Big 12); First-team All-Big 12 performer (AP/Big 12).
Notable: Embraced the Star position in head coach Dave Aranda’s defense. Recruited out of Stafford, he was used in blitzes and run support and created five turnovers between his interceptions and fumble recoveries. Wasn’t used as a true cover corner because of how he was used. However, wherever he was, Pitre made a difference in pass coverage for a Baylor defense that had 16 interceptions.
The Prediction
While Bryant and McKinley had tremendous seasons and were deserved first-team all-conference selections, Pitre has the differentiator with defensive player of the year honors. If the award selection committee is playing this letter to the law, maybe Pitre’s selection would be in jeopardy. But then again, it put him on the list and named him a finalist. To be honest, this really should be between Pitre and McKinley because of the productivity. Between fan voting and common sense, it would be hard to see how Pitre would not win this. He’s had the most complete season of the three.
