Texas Football senior defensive back Jahdae Barron has been named one of four finalists for the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Friday morning. This prestigious award is given annually to the nation’s top defensive player.
Barron is the first Longhorn to be a Nagurski Trophy finalist since defensive tackle Malcom Brown in 2014, and the last Texas player to win the award was defensive end Brian Orakpo in 2008. Additionally, Barron is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the nation’s top defensive back, making him the first UT defensive back to be a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy.
In addition to these honors, Barron has been 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 on November 18-19.
A fifth-year defensive back, Barron has played in 51 career games with 33 starts. Before the 2024 season, he was named preseason second-team All-SEC on defense and was on the preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award. Known for his versatility, Barron plays multiple positions in the Texas defensive backfield and provides leadership as a veteran. He has four interceptions, ranking seventh nationally and leading the SEC, and his 12 passes defended are 13th in the nation and second in the SEC. Barron’s 38 total tackles are the fifth-most by a UT defender this season, and he leads the team in interceptions and pass break-ups.
Under Barron’s leadership, Texas tops the FBS in total defense (249.0 ypg) and passing yards allowed (136.7 ypg). The Longhorns also rank second nationally and lead the SEC in passing efficiency defense (91.19) and first down defense (148). Texas leads the SEC and ranks fourth in scoring defense (11.9 ppg), seventh in passes intercepted (15), sixth in turnovers gained (22), and 13th in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.310). The defense limited Arkansas to 231 total yards, 149 passing yards, and 82 rushing yards, with the total yards and passing yards being their lowest outputs of the season, and the rushing yards the second lowest. The Razorbacks entered the game ranking fifth nationally in total offense (483.6), 11th in passing offense (292.3), and 32nd in rushing offense (191.2).
Barron, an Austin, Texas native, helped Texas secure a 20-10 road win at Arkansas on November 16, clinching UT’s 10th-straight true road win – the longest active streak in the FBS. In that game, Barron recorded seven tackles (six solo), including one sack and two tackles for loss, along with an interception, one pass breakup, and one QB hurry. His interception came early in the game, setting up the first touchdown for a 7-0 lead. He also made a critical tackle for loss on a 3rd-and-3 to force a three-and-out and posted a sack to prevent Arkansas from scoring before halftime. Barron disrupted the quarterback again in the fourth quarter, forcing an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-10 that led to a field goal, keeping the game at 13-10. Texas extended their lead to 20-10 on the next possession.
In Texas’ 49-17 win against Florida on November 9, Barron had two tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup. He logged three tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup in the 27-24 win at No. 25 Vanderbilt on October 26. Barron had a career-high two interceptions against Georgia on October 19, along with four tackles (two solo). He became the first Longhorn with two interceptions in a game since D’Shawn Jamison in 2019. His two interceptions were part of UT’s three against Georgia, the most against a top-5 team since 2002. In UT’s 31-12 win at No. 10 Michigan on September 7, he recorded four stops, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery.
This year’s other finalists for the Nagurski Trophy are Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, and South Carolina edge Kyle Kennard.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy recipient will be chosen from these four finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee selects the national defensive player of the year, who is part of the 2024 FWAA All-America Team, and the trophy will be presented at the 30th Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on December 9 in Charlotte, N.C.
