As Longhorns defensive back Jahdea Barron enters his fifth year at Austin, the expectations are higher than ever. On Monday, the talented senior was placed on the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award. Each year, the award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
In his college career, Barron has played in 41 games, making 23 starts. During the 2023 campaign, he recorded 61 tackles and a career-high six pass breakups. As the Longhorns won 12 games, Barron was a key piece in making life difficult for opponents.
His best performance came in the Red River Rivalry versus Oklahoma, where he was a tackling machine. The Longhorns star had a team-high 11 tackles (five solo) and one tackle for loss. It was one of the two games last season in which Barron recorded at least 10 tackles.
With one season left in his college career, Barron will be looking to make the most of the 2024 campaign. He has also been named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and honored as a preseason second-team All-SEC selection on defense. His national recognition is unsurprising, as he has been a human highlight reel in Austin.
The Longhorns will kick off their first season in the SEC in just a few weeks. While they are now in a tougher conference, they have a talented roster, with Barron leading the way on defense. If he can replicate his play from last year, then the Longhorns will be in good hands, and Barron could add another accolade to his resume.