Trey Taylor accepts 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award

Air Force safety Trey Taylor accepted the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award in Oklahoma City, Okla., today during an award ceremony on behalf of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and presenting sponsor Paycom. The award is given to the top defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.

Taylor is the first-ever Thorpe Award recipient from Air Force and only the second Falcon to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient. Taylor led overall ballots as a 47% first place vote favorite.

A First-Team All-Mountain West selection at safety, Taylor contributed 71 tackles, three interceptions, four PBU, his first-career touchdown and recorded TFLs in four games in his best season for the Falcons. Taylor posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 82.6 and was credited with allowing just 18 receptions on 31 targets for an average of 10.1 yards per reception.

Taylor proved to be a leader for the Falcons by also being honored with this year's Defender of the Nation Award, given to a college football player from one of the nation's service academies based on exceptional leadership qualities, performance on and off the field, and a high standard of integrity.

Taylor was named the recipient of the East-West Shrine Bowl® Pat Tillman Award last week. The award is presented to the player who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. Taylor participated in the East-West Shrine game Thursday, Feb. 1, at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.

Taylor, a native of Frisco, Texas, was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the first Falcon to earn first-team honors since Reggie Rembert earned the same honor from the AFCA in 2010. Taylor was also a third-team selection by the Associated Press.

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards, and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter at @NCFAA.

Trey Taylor accepts 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award

Players Mentioned

Trey Taylor

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