Named after Carlisle Indians running back and multi-sport standout James Francis Thorpe, the Jim Thorpe Award has honored the top defensive back in college football since 1986. The winner of the annual award is voted by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and you can find a full list of Jim Thorpe Award winners by year listed below.
Jim Thorpe Winners Listed by Year
- 2023 – Trey Taylor, Air Force
- 2022 – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
- 2021 – Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
- 2020 – Trevon Moehrig, TCU
- 2019 – Grant Delpit, LSU
- 2018 – Deandre Baker, Georgia
- 2017 – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
- 2016 – Adoree’ Jackson, USC
- 2015 – Desmond King, Iowa
- 2014 – Gerod Holliman, Louisville
- 2013 – Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
- 2012 – Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
- 2011 – Morris Claiborne, LSU
- 2010 – Patrick Peterson, LSU
- 2009 – Eric Berry, Tennessee
- 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 – Terence 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 Myers, 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 (FL) & Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma (the 1987 Jim Thorpe Award was a tie)
- 1986 – Thomas Everett, Baylor
Jim Thorpe Award Winners by Program
- 3 – Oklahoma, LSU
- 2 – TCU, Alabama, USC, Ohio State, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Florida State
- 1 – Cincinnati, Georgia, Iowa, Louisville, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Auburn, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, Colorado State, Miami (FL), Baylor, Air Force