Longhorns Country

Texas Longhorns DB Jahdae Barron Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron continues to reel in the preseason accolades.

Matt Galatzan

Oct 21, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (23) in action during the game against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (23) in action during the game against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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With senior defensive back Jahdae Barron leading the way, the Texas Longhorns defense is going to be in good hands this fall.

Not only is Barron considered a surefire NFL talent heading into his final season, but he has also found himself earning multiple preseason accolades this summer, including being named a preseason second-team All-SEC selection and part of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

Now, he has been named to yet another watchlist, this time for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday.

Returning as a fifth-year senior, the defensive back will be a key leader for the Texas secondary. Barron played in all 14 games last season and registered 61 total tackles, 32 solo, 4.5 for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery, and a career-high of six pass breakups.

He's also tied for sixth in program history for most non-offensive touchdowns with three.

The winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 12 at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, with the formal presentation to come March 14 at the Maxwell Football Club Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Barron is one of 90 preseason candidates for the award, including 19 other SEC players.

Should Barron manage to take home the award, he would become the first player in Longhorns program history to do so.

Barron and the Longhorns will make their season debut on August 31 in Austin vs. Colorado State.

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Matt Galatzan

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration.  Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network.  When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later.  Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered.  Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys.  You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

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