The finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which recognizes the best defensive back in college football, have been announced. The finalists are Cooper DeJean from Iowa, Malaki Starks from Georgia, and Trey Taylor from Air Force. Cooper DeJean, in addition to being a finalist for the award, has also been named the Defensive Back of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year in the All-Big Ten team. The award recognizes outstanding performance in the defensive backfield, and these three players have been recognized for their exceptional skills in the 2023 season.
Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back) finalists Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Malaki Starks, S, Georgia Trey Taylor, S, Air Force.
Iowa Defense/ST All-Big Ten DB Cooper DeJean (1st media/coaches) -- DB of the year Returner DeJean (1st media/coaches) -- RS of the year P Tory Taylor (1st media/coaches) -- Punter of the year LB Jay Higgins (1st media/coaches) DB Sebastian Castro (2nd media) LB Nick Jackson (3rd…
Finalists for Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) Cooper DeJean, Iowa Malaki Starks, Georgia Trey Taylor, Air Force
Kool-Aid McKinstry was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award but did not make the cut to the finalists. They are Cooper DeJean (Iowa, Jr., Cornerback), Malaki Starks (Georgia, So., Safety) and Trey Taylor (Air Force, Sr., Safety).
Thorpe Award finalists (best DB): ⚫️ Iowa CB Cooper DeJean 🐶 Georgia safety Malaki Starks 🇺🇸 Air Force safety Trey Taylor