Michael Taaffe, Manny Muhammad named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list

Senior safety Michael Taaffe and junior cornerback Manny Muhammad were named to the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award watch list on Wednesday, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced. The Thorpe is given annually to the nation’s best defensive back. Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron won the award in 2024, becoming the third Longhorn to take home the honor.
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Taaffe, a senior from Austin (Texas) Westlake, is a former walk-on with 43 appearances and 26 starts. He earned an AP second-team All-American selection in 2024 after notching 78 tackles, two sacks, 5.5 TFL, two interceptions, 10 PBUs, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He was recently named a preseason first-team All-SEC selection along with Colin Simmons and Anthony Hill.
Muhammad, a junior from South Oak Cliff High School who calls DeSoto, Texas home, started all 16 games opposite Barron last year. He has 30 appearances in burnt orange with 18 starts. Last season, he recorded 36 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and eight passes defended. He was the only Longhorn selected to the preseason All-SEC second team defense.
In addition to Barron, the Longhorns claimed the Jim Thorpe Award in 2005 via Michael Huff and in 2006 via Aaron Ross.
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Semifinalists will be revealed on October 28. Finalists will be announced on November 25.
The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12.
2025 Jim Thorpe Award watch list
Xavion Alford, Safety, Arizona State, Sr.
Ty Benefield, Safety, Boise State, Jr.
KJ Bolden, Safety, Georgia, So.
Bud Clark, Safety, TCU, Sr.
Jeremiah Cooper, Safety, Iowa State, Sr.
Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State, Jr.
Daylen Everette, Cornerback, Georgia, Sr.
David Fisher, Cornerback, North Texas, Sr.
Chance Gamble, Cornerback, Georgia Southern, Sr.
Brylan Green, Safety, Liberty, Sr.
Tyler Hallum, Cornerback, Kennesaw State, Sr.
Al’zillion Hamilton, Cornerback, Fresno State, Sr.
Davison Igbinosun, Cornerback, Ohio State, Sr.
Casey Larkin, Safety, Army, Sr.
A’Marion McCoy, Cornerback, Boise State, Sr.
Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee, Jr.
Leonard Moore, Cornerback, Notre Dame, So.
Terry Moore, Safety, Duke, Sr.
Malik Muhammad, Cornerback, Texas, Jr.
Isaiah Nwokobia, Safety, SMU, Sr.
Tank Pearson, Cornerback, Ohio, Gr. Sr.
Koi Perich, Safety, Minnesota, So.
D’Angelo Ponds, Cornerback, Indiana, Jr.
Chandler Rivers, Cornerback, Duke, Sr.
De’Shawn Rucker, Cornerback, South Florida, Sr.
Xavier Scott, Cornerback, Illinois, Sr.
Tyree Skipper, Safety, Louisiana, Sr.
Avery Smith, Cornerback, Toledo, Sr.
Michael Taaffe, Safety, Texas, Sr.
Avieon Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson, Jr.
Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon, Jr.
Jacob Thomas, Safety, James Madison, Sr.
DJ Walker, Safety, Ohio, So.
JeRico Washington Jr., Cornerback, Kennesaw State, So.
Jontez Williams, Cornerback, Iowa State, Jr.