Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron during the 2024-25 College Football Playoff quarterfinals. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter stole the spotlight with his stellar two-way play last season, but Hunter did not take home the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in the nation. That honor went to Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, who is also expected to hear his name called Thursday night during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Barron tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions (one more than Hunter had at Colorado) and allowed the lowest passer rating in the country, according to Pro Football Focus. An Associated Press first-team All-American and All-SEC first-team selection, the Austin, Texas, native helped lead his hometown school to the College Football Playoff in 2023 and 2024.
In a video breaking down Barron’s skillset, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said, “All around an excellent football player.” Most mock drafts have Barron going in the middle of the first round, with Pro Football Focus projecting him to be taken 11th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
In 57 games across five seasons for the Longhorns, Barron registered 227 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, eight interceptions and one forced fumble. He picked off three passes in two games against Georgia in 2024.
While the conversation about defensive backs has been focused on Hunter (who also plays wide receiver), Barron has not been shy about expressing confidence in his ability to perform at the next level.
“I most definitely believe that I am CB1,” he told On SI. “I’m so versatile. I can do a lot. I can go play corner, I can play nickel, and I can play safety. So I’m what you need, and I can go do it for you in the most humble way.”
Barron has also not been shy about sharing another important aspect of his life: his faith in God. He has referenced his faith on social media and discussed the role faith played in the Longhorns’ locker room during the team’s run to the CFP semifinals last season.
After Texas lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, Barron used the postgame press conference to put the defeat in perspective and point people to Christ.
“At the end of the day, I just want everyone to know [you don’t always] come out on top, but we won,” he said. “We truly know who our leader is, and that’s God and Jesus Christ. Ultimately, just having the ability to use the gift that He gave us to share to the world, I mean, it’s been amazing.”
Following the team’s quarterfinal win over Arizona State, he shared about trusting in God’s timing — some thoughts that are quite appropriate as he now waits to see where his NFL career will begin.
“I told all the guys, like, last year and the years before previously, I wanted things done on my time,” Barron said. “But it doesn’t work like that. God has everything planned. It’s already written. And all you have to do is just keep going with the process and just trusting the process and then allowing everybody to be a plus in your life and trusting everybody. So just literally relying on God.”
The NFL Draft gets underway from Green Bay, Wisconsin, at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday, and the draft will wrap up with the final four rounds on Saturday.
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