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Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron has worked under the watchful eye of Michael Huff all season long. Barron’s primary goal is to be as good as one of the best defensive backs in Longhorns history.
History may ultimately come to define them as equals.
If Barron didn’t win the Jim Thorpe Award with his performance Saturday against Arkansas, then there must be another superstar hiding in plain sight somewhere else.
“I’m doing everything they need me to do, and God willing, he just keeps blessing me out there,” Barron said afterward.
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Disregard Arkansas’ 5-5 overall record. This was a defensive tour de force against an offensive unit ranked among the top five in the nation in yards per game.
Barron had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, one sack, one pass-breakup and one quarterback hurry on a drive-killing third-down play.
Arkansas’ Taylen Green completed just 17 of 25 passes for 149 yards with no touchdowns and the one interception. The Razorbacks’ high-flying offense was shut down, save for a 75-yard drive in the second half that eclipsed the entire total yardage total amassed on the eight previous drives combined.
Barron was named a Thorpe Award semifinalist for the second straight season on Oct. 29. At minimum, he should now have the inside track to becoming just the third UT player in history to win the coveted prize.
Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006) are the only previous winners for the honor to wear burnt orange. Huff is now an assistant director of player development for UT. All season long, he’s been quietly helping Barron with tips and tricks as the coaches move the 5-foot-11 senior all over the field.
Barron has been moving up NFL mock draft boards, too. Unofficially, Barron now has 38 tackles this season. He’s also got a team-high four interceptions with four pass break-ups.
Shouldn’t he have more numbers? Teams simply aren’t throwing his way. They’re going elsewhere to find opportunities against the nation’s No. 1 pass defense.
“What we coach here is effort,” Barron said. “Just keep playing, keep playing ball. We know he’s a great quarterback that can move and try to step up in the pocket and just run. So just keep playing ball. And, you know, God, he’s gonna make me shine. He’s gonna shine light on me all the time.”
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