The Jim Thorpe Award is presented yearly to the top defensive back in college football. Past winners include Grant Delpit, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Peterson. The award has never been won by a Group of 5 player, but this year, one player has a real chance of changing that.
Willie Roberts of Louisiana Tech was named a semifinalist for the award, making him one of two Group of 5 players nominated. Roberts has the makeup of a true underdog, and his ascension to one of the top defensive backs in all of college football has been nothing short of impressive.
Coming out of Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, Roberts was not highly recruited. Rated as just a 2-star recruit by Rivals, the odds have been against him from the beginning.
Roberts started his college career at Stephen F. Austin, where he played for two years. He played in all 34 games during his time there and was named to the all-conference team following his freshman campaign.
Roberts entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season and decided to continue his career at Louisiana Tech over North Texas and New Mexico State, among others.
His career at Louisiana Tech has been stellar to this point. In his first season there, he played in all 12 games and recorded four interceptions and 12 passes defended. Through 11 games in 2023, he is tied for 3rd in college football with 12 passes defended.
Among the Thorpe Award semifinalists, Roberts ranks 1st in pass breakups, opponent completion percentage, and touchdowns allowed and ranks 2nd in opponent completions.
These statistics are not by chance, either. Louisiana Tech puts their cornerbacks in man coverage “90 percent of the time,” according to head coach Sonny Cumbie. Roberts is being put in challenging situations, and is thriving every week.
Ranking that highly in meaningful stats while being in the most aggressive, mistake prone style of defense is telling. It tells everybody that Roberts is a genuine shutdown corner.
The Jim Thorpe Award committee will reconvene to name three finalists after the final week of the season, and Roberts has solidified his place as a more than deserving candidate. From two-star recruit to Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, Roberts has overcome the odds and proven he is one of the best in the country.
After the season ends, Roberts will begin his preparations for the NFL Draft, attempting to follow in the footsteps of fellow Louisiana Tech cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Amik Robertson, who were both drafted in recent seasons.
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