11/8/01

Jammer tabbed Football News Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist

AUSTIN, Texas - University of Texas senior cornerback Quentin Jammer (Angleton, Texas), who was listed among 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award on Monday, was included among 15 semifinalists for the Football News Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.

Jammer leads the nation with 22 pass breakups (tied for No. 1 on UT's single-season list) this year and is tied for first on UT's career chart with 55 career pass PBUs. He is a leader on a Longhorns defense that ranks first in the Big 12 and third nationally in total defense (252.0 ypg). The Horns' pass defense ranks eight nationally in passing yards allowed (165.8 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (95.9 rating).

	Senior cornerback Quentin Jammer was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Football News Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.

"Quentin is without question one of the nation's premier defensive players and he certainly is worthy of being one of the top candidates for Defensive Player of the Year honors," Texas 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."

During 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. He 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.

"I'm really excited," Jammer said. "Being named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award a few days ago and now having Football News rank me as one of the top defensive players in the country is very rewarding. As a team, we have a lot of goals that I want to continue to help us work toward achieving and those are my No. 1 priority. Any personal achievements we receive as a result of reaching those goals will be icing on the cake."

A first-team All-Big 12 performer in 2000, Jammer has 45 tackles (40 solo), three tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble 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, nine caused fumbles and a school-record-tying 55 pass breakups. He helped the Horns lead the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2000 (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 fifth-best senior prospect regardless of position.

The Football News Defensive Player of the Year list will be narrowed to five finalists on Nov. 20. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

2001 Football News Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists
DE Alex Brown, Florida
DT Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin
LB Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma
CB Keyou Craver, Nebraska
S Kevin Curtis, Texas Tech
LB Levar Fisher, North Carolina State
LB Larry Foote, Michigan
DE Dwight Freeney, Syracuse
LB E.J. Henderson, Maryland
CB QUENTIN JAMMER, TEXAS
DE Julius Peppers, North Carolina
S Ed Reed, Miami (Fla.)
CB Derek Ross, Ohio State
LB Robert Thomas, UCLA
S Roy Williams, Oklahoma