Senior defensive back J.R. Reed has recently been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
Reed, the Frisco, Texas native, will look to fill the shoes of reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker, the former Bulldog who was drafted 30th overall by the New York Giants this past April.
This award has been given annually to college football’s best defensive back since 1986. Reed had a solid season last year on the defensive side of the ball, tallying 66 total tackles on the year, 1 sack and 2 interceptions.
If Reed were to win the award this year it would be the second time a school has secured the award in back-to-back years. The last time was in 2010-2011, when Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne secured the award for LSU in consecutive seasons.
