Longhorns legend issues new challenge for Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron ahead of CFP
All season long, Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron has done everything possible to live up to his mentor Michael Huff, long considered one of the best defensive backs in Longhorns’ history. Huff wore No. 7. Barron switched to wear No. 7. Huff got interceptions. Barron got five this season. Huff was an All-American and won the […]
All season long, Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron has done everything possible to live up to his mentor Michael Huff, long considered one of the best defensive backs in Longhorns’ history.
Huff wore No. 7. Barron switched to wear No. 7.
Huff got interceptions. Barron got five this season.
Huff was an All-American and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2005. Barron was named a Associated Press All-American on Monday and last week won the Thorpe Award, too.
“I mean, it’s amazing, but it’s kind of like you got the 24-hour rule,” Barron said. “But I gave myself 48 hours.”
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Now, Huff has moved the bar even higher. “Huff, he’s an amazing, quiet dude,” Barron said. “Honestly, he told me, ‘You need a natty to talk to me.’”
Huff won the 2005 national championship with the Longhorns. Now, it’s Barron’s turn. No. 5 seed Texas opens the first round on Saturday against No. 12 seed Clemson at home in the College Football Playoffs.
“No, he was actually, like, so serious,” Barron said with a smile.
During Monday’s media session, Texas safety Michael Taaffe walked in and saw the scrum around Barron and shouted, “Jah-Thorpe!”
Winning the Thorpe Award is the personal culmination of Barron’s decision this time last year to bet on himself. Projected to be a low NFL draft pick, Barron chose to return to UT and boost his stock. He did exactly that, and now Barron is a likely late first- or early second-round pick.
Barron will likely have the entire NFL world watching him and the Longhorns in these CFP games. On Saturday, Texas will face Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, a Westlake product coming back to Austin to face his old hometown team.
Texas could lean on safety Andrew Mukuba, a Clemson transfer, for some info about Klubnik. “Probably some personal information,” Barron said. “Like his mom’s name.”
Mostly, they’ll see the same quarterback the rest of the ACC did. Klubnik threw for 3,303 yards with 33 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Horns didn’t want to get into scouting reports during Monday’s session with reporters. But Barron was thankful that Taaffe, Mukuba and other teammates supported his journey this season. Multiple defensive backs — not to mention current Kansas City Chiefs standout Xavier Worthy — wore special T-shirts supporting Barron’s bid for the Thorpe Award.
It’s taken all of them for the Horns to be special. Texas heads into the CFP with the nation’s No. 1 pass defense.
“It’s just tremendous to have those guys a part of the team. But that’s crazy God works,” Barron said. “I was supposed to go to Baylor. Taaffe wasn’t supposed to be here. Andrew went to Clemson. But God kind of put us all back together for a reason.”
