jahdae barron

Jahdae Barron attended John B.Connally High School in Austin, Texas, where he starred on the football and track & field teams. He was selected first team All-District 5-A 11, as a defensive back his junior season and earned second team 5A All-State his senior year. In addition to defensive back, Jahdae also played wide receiver and returned kick offs and punts for Connally. He finished his senior season at Connally as one of the highest rated defensive backs in the country and attended The University of Texas after high school. 

Jahdae appeared in five games for the Texas Longhorns as a freshman. Barron saw more playing time as a sophmore. He appeared in nine games and made two starts during the 2021 season. He came into his own as a junior, making nine starts and playing in 13 games. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 and finished 2022 with 78 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and led Texas with 11.5 tackles for loss. Jahdae continued his excellence on the field in 2023. He was named a Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and selected second team All-Big 12. He finished 2023 with 61 tackles, (32 solo), one interception and six pass break-ups.

Jahdae Barron became the best defensive back in the country in 2024, winning the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Barron started all 16 games for the longhorns in 2024. He led the SEC and finished fourth in the country with five interceptions. Barron was named First-Team All-America by the Associated Press and First Team All-SEC. In addition to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Barron was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He helped lead the longhorns to a College Football Playoff, (CFP) appearance. Barron had three solo tackles and two pass breakups in the opening round victory over Clemson. He was named the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Defensive MVP in the Longhorns quarterfinal win against Arizona State as Texas advanced to the CFP semifinals for a second straight season. Jahdae finished the 2024 season with 67 tackles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. 

Trey Taylor came out of Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas and attended the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) where he was a three-year starter as a defensive back. Taylor started 10 games for the Falcons in 2021 and finished second on the team his sophomore season with 62 tackles, 39 solo, as well as one interception and one forced fumble. Taylor led the Falcons with 69 total tackles including a team leading 41 solo tackles as a junior in 2022. He finished his junior season with two interceptions and was named second team All-Mountain West Conference. 

Trey Taylor became one of the most dominate defensive backs in the country as a senior winning the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. He finished his senior season as a First Team All-Mountain West Conference and Third-Team All-American selection. He complied 71 total tackles, 39 solo, three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, and four pass break ups. In addition to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Taylor also won the 2023 Defender of the Nation Award, given to a college football player from one of the nation’s service academies based on exceptional leadership and performance on and off the field. He is only the second player in USAFA history to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient.