11/5/01

Jammer tabbed Thorpe Award Semifinalist

AUSTIN, Texas - University of Texas senior cornerback Quentin Jammer (Angleton, Texas) was listed among 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back, the Jim Thorpe Association announce on Monday.

Jammer leads the nation with 22 pass breakups and is a leader on a UT defense that ranks first in the Big 12 and third nationally in total defense (252.0 ypg). The Horns' pass defense ranks eighth in the nation in passing yards allowed (165.8 ypg) and pass efficiency (95.9 rating).

"Quentin is without question one of the nation's premier defensive players and certainly is worthy of being one of the top candidates for the Thorpe Award," Longhorns head coach Mack Brown said. "He's been a tremendous player for us and made several great plays this season, but the thing I have noticed the most is that he is playing with so much confidence right now. He's got a tremendous attitude and is playing every week at a very high level."

Over the last two games, Jammer has held two of the Big 12's top receivers to just two catches for 14 yards in man-to-man coverage. Jammer held Missouri's Justin Gage, who ranked fourth nationally in receptions (8.5 rpg) and second in the Big 12 in receiving yards (86.3 ypg), to just two catches for 14 yards two weeks ago. Last week, he held Baylor's Reggie Newhouse, who ranked fifth in the Big 12 in receptions (5.0 rpg), without a catch in man-to-man coverage. Newhouse had one reception for 18 yards when the Longhorns were in zone coverage.

"This is a great honor," Jammer said. "We have a lot of goals as a team that I want to continue to help us work toward achieving and those are my No. 1 priority. But, I have always dreamed of seeing my name included among the long list of great defensive backs that have played at The University of Texas. One of my personal goals for the season was to be an All-American and win the Thorpe Award, so it is truly a great honor to make their list of semifinalists."

A first-team All-Big 12 performer in 2000, Jammer has 45 tackles (40 solo), three tackles for loss, two interceptions and a UT record-tying 22 PBUs for the 8-1 and fifth-ranked Longhorns this season.

In 43 career games, Jammer has posted 185 tackles, seven interceptions, eight caused fumbles and a school-record-tying 55 pass breakups. He helped the Horns lead the nation in pass efficiency defense last season (88.3 rating).

Jammer is widely considered one of the nation's premier cornerbacks. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks the Texas star as the nation's top cornerback and the sixth-best senior prospect regardless of position.

The Thorpe Award list will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 20 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 6 during ESPN's College Football Awards Show. Formal presentation of the award, which was first presented in 1986, will be in Oklahoma City on Feb. 11, 2002. No Longhorns player has ever won the Thorpe Award.

For more information on the Jim Thorpe Award, click here or contact the Jim Thorpe Association at 405/495-4880.

2001 JIM THORPE AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
CB - Sheldon Brown, Sourth Carolina
CB - Keyou Craver, Nebraska
CB - QUENTIN JAMMER, TEXAS
CB - Terence Newman, Kansas State
S - Marques Anderson, UCLA
S - Mike Doss, Ohio State
S - Michael Lewis, Colorado
S - Pig Prather, Mississippi State
S - Edward Reed, Miami
S - Stuart Schweigert, Purdue
S - Lamont Thompson, Washington State
S - Roy Williams, Oklahoma