OU Football Tradition | Award Winners

Thorpe Award | Official Site
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986. It is voted on by the Jim Thorpe Association, an organization based in Oklahoma City.
 

2003 | Derrick Strait

Oklahoma defensive back Derrick Strait was named the 2003 recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best defensive back by the Jim Thorpe Association of Oklahoma City.
 
Strait became the third Sooner to win the award. Roy Williams took home the hardware in 2001 and Rickey Dixon shared the honor with Miami's Bennie Blades in 1987.
 
The 5-11, 195-pound Strait recorded 80 tackles - the third-most for the 12-2 Sooners in 2003 - and intercepted three passes for 127 return yards. The senior set Oklahoma career records for passes broken up, career starts and interception return yards.
 
In the Sooners' 65-13 thrashing of rival Texas on October 11, Strait had 11 tackles, broke up three passes, recovered two fumbles and had an early interception. He also had an interception and 97-yard return against Texas Tech on November 22.
 

Career Statistics
Season	UT	AT	TT	TFL	INT	FF-FR	PBU
2000	41	24	65	5-27	2-32	2-0	15
2001	36	21	57	3-4	3-63	0-0	12
2002	50	18	68	1-2	6-175	3-1	13
2003	58	22	80	7-19	3-127	2-5	12
Totals	185	85	270	16-52	14-397	7-6	52

 

2001 | Roy Williams

By the time his career was over, Roy Williams was more feared by offensive opponents and more respected by his defensive peers than any player in the country.
 
In his final season at OU, he won the Nagurski Award as the nation's top defender and the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. He was No. 7 in the Heisman Trophy voting, the highest finish of the year by a non-quarterback.
 
Williams bypassed his senior season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, but still left his mark on the OU record book.
 
He was drafted in the first round (No. 8 pick overall) in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
 

Career Statistics
Season	UT	AT	TT	TFL	INT	FF-FR	PBU
1999	57	18	81	7-25	2	1-0	11
2000	58	35	99	13-47	2	0-2	9
2001	73	28	107	14-57	5	0-3	22
Totals	188	81	287	34-129	9	1-5	42

 

1987 | Rickey Dixon

Rickey Dixon was named a consensus All-American in 1987, along with all-conference honors in 1986 and 1987. He became the first Sooner to win the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the country. Dixon shared the award with Miami's Bennie Blades.
 
He finished his career with 156 total tackles and 16 interceptions. During his senior year he picked off eight balls, which tied the school record.
 
In the "Game of the Century II" with Nebraska rated No. 1 in the country and OU in the second position, Dixon had an incredible game as he picked off two passes. The final one came in the fourth quarter, sealing the Orange Bowl berth for the Sooners.
 
He was the fifth player taken in the 1988 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
 

Career Statistics
Season	UT	AT	TT	INT	PBU
1984	17	11	29	2-41	4
1985	20	4	29	3-28	1
1986	33	16	52	3-2	6
1987	42	13	60	9-232	12
Totals	112	44	170	16-285	23