BATON ROUGE — For the second straight year, LSU free safety LaRon Landry has been named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, the Jim Thorpe Award Screening Committee announced on Tuesday.
Landry is one of 11 semifinalists for the award that is given annually to college football’s top defensive back.
Landry is in his fourth season as a starter for the Tigers. In nine games this year, Landry has played a key role in LSU ranking No. 1 in the nation in total defense and being No. 3 in the country in scoring defense. LSU is currently 7-2 overall and ranked No. 12 in the nation following last week’s 28-24 win over No. 8 Tennessee in Knoxville.
Landry, who has started 44 straight games, is second on the team with 47 tackles. He also has three tackles for losses, one sack, one interception, a blocked punt and three quarterback hurries.
For his career, Landry has 288 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for losses, eight sacks and 10 interceptions.
The Thorpe Award list will be narrowed to three finalists on November 20. The winner will be announced at the ESPN College Football Awards Show on December 7 in Orlando, Fla. The winner will be presented at a formal banquet in Oklahoma City on February 12, 2007.
The 2006 award marks the 20th anniversary of the trophy, first presented in 1986 to Baylor’s Thomas Everett. Everett and Miami’s Bennie Blades, the second Thorpe Award winner, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during ceremonies in New York on December 5.
Thorpe Award winners are selected for performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Last year’s winner was Texas University standout Michael Huff, now playing for the Oakland Raiders.
2006 Thorpe Award Semifinalist
Antoine Cason, Jr., Arizona
Leon Hall, Sr., Michigan
Daymeion Hughes, Sr., Calfornia
LaRon Landry, Sr., LSU
Marcus McCauley, Sr., Fresno State
Reggie Nelson, Jr., Florida
Darrelle Revis Jr., Pittsburgh
Aaron Ross, Sr., Texas
Antonio Smith, Sr., Ohio State
Eric Weddle, Sr., Utah
Tom Zbikowski, Sr., Notre Dame