BATON ROUGE – LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White has been named one of the 16 semifinalists for the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, the award announced on Monday.
White has started six of LSU’s seven games at cornerback and has recorded 22 tackles, three pass breakups and one tackle for a 2-yard loss for the fourth-ranked and undefeated Tigers.
White also doubles as LSU’s punt returner where he’s averaging 11.4 yards on nine returns. He returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in a 34-24 win over Syracuse on Sept. 26.
As a unit, LSU’s defense ranks No. 5 in the SEC, allowing 315.9 yards per game. The Tigers are No. 2 in the league in rushing defense (93.7). The Tigers are allowing just 22.6 points per game.
White is looking to become LSU’s third Thorpe Award winner, joining Patrick Peterson in 2010 and Morris Claiborne in 2011.
The list of 16 semifinalists will be trimmed to three finalists on Monday, Nov. 23. The winner of the award will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 10th in Atlanta.
2015 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists
Name (School)
Mackensie Alexander (Clemson)
Vonn Bell (Ohio State)
Jeremy Cash (Duke)
Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida)
Mike Hilton (Ole Miss)
Eddie Jackson (Alabama)
Desmond King (Iowa)
Jourdan Lewis (Michigan)
Shawun Lurry (Northern Illinois)
Adrian McDonald (Houston)
Kevin Peterson (Oklahoma State)
Jalen Ramsey (Florida State)
Zack Sanchez (Oklahoma)
Jordan Simone (Arizona State)
Darian Thompson (Boise State)
Tre’Davious White (LSU)