Texas Longhorns duo find themselves on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list

Texas Longhorns duo find themselves on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list originally appeared on A to Z Sports.

Texas defensive backs Malik Muhammad and Michael Taaffe were announced on the preseason watch list for the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award. The award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

It marks the first time for either earning a spot. The accolade comes a year after former Longhorn defensive back Jahdae Barron won the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award – becoming the third Texas player in program history to win the award. He joined Michael Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006), who won in back-to-back years. Texas is now tied with LSU and Oklahoma for the most all-time Thorpe Award winners with three apiece.

Muhammad, a preseason Second-Team All-SEC selection, is in his third year in Austin. He has played in 30 games with 18 starts, including 16 starts last season. The DeSoto, Tex., native finished the 2024 season with 36 tackles, eight pass break-ups, and a tackle for loss during his sophomore season. In Texas' SEC opener against Mississippi State, he finished with three tackles and a tackle for a loss.

He tallied a career-high five tackles in the CFP First Round versus Clemson. He followed this up with a stellar performance against Arizona State in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. There, he had three tackles and two pass break-ups. His eight pass break-ups ranked third on the team behind Barron's 11 and Taaffe's 10.

Michael Taaffe adds another accolade to the preseason shelf.

A preseason First-Team All-SEC honoree, Taaffe has also been placed on preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy. He returns for his final year after earning a nod for second-team All-America. The local product and former walk-on started all 16 games last season and was second on the team in total tackles (78), interceptions (2), and pass break-ups (10).

In the CFP Quarterfinal against the Sun Devils, Taaffe logged a career-high 10 tackles (six solo) and two pass break-ups performance to help send Texas to its second-consecutive CFP semifinal. Taaffe has played in 43 career games – starting 26 of them.

Semifinalists for the award will be announced Tuesday October 28 and finalists will be revealed November 25. The winner will the be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards show December 12 on ESPN.

This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.