White Named Thorpe Award Semifinalist

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – LSU senior cornerback Tre’Davious White has been named as one of 16 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award the organization announced Monday morning, which goes to the nation’s top defensive back.

 

Whittled down from a preseason watch list of 39 back in July, White is one of three players from the Southeastern Conference to be named a semifinalist, with the Big Ten leading the way with four selections.

 

Hailing from Shreveport, Louisiana, White has started all seven games for the Tigers this season tying for the team lead with two interceptions to go along with his 23 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He’s been an integral part of the LSU defense since his debut season in 2013, starting 42 total games in his career.

 

Earlier this season, White became the first non-offensive player in LSU history to score touchdowns in the first two games of the season, as in the opener against Wisconsin he returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown, while the very next week he returned a punt 60 yards for a score against Jacksonville State at home, moving into a tie for second place at LSU with three career punt return TD’s in being named the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.

 

Last week, White was selected as one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, an award which focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

 

White was also placed on the watch lists for the Nagurski and Bednarik awards, while being a first team All-SEC selection by the coaches and media in the preseason.

 

The Thorpe Award is named after history’s greatest athlete, Jim Thorpe, and is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City. Thorpe excelled at every sport in which he competed, including football at which he played on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

 

The three Thorpe Award finalists will be named on Monday, November 21st and the winner will be announced at the live Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 8th airing on ESPN. The winner of the 2016 Thorpe Award will be honored at a banquet in Oklahoma City on February 7, 2017.

 

 

Clyde Verdin

Associate Sports Information Director

LSU Athletics