Dec. 12, 2002
Orlando, Fla. - Kansas State senior defensive back Terence Newman added yet another award to his ever-increasing trophy case on Thursday, as he was named the 18th winner of the Jim Thorpe Award given annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Newman, who received the award at the Disney World Theme Park as part of ESPN's College Football Awards Show, was selected for the honor over Mike Doss of Ohio State and Troy Polamalu of USC. The official presentation of the award will take place in February at a formal banquet in Oklahoma City, Okla., home to the Jim Thorpe Association.
Newman becomes Kansas State's first major award winner since Michael Bishop earned the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award in 1998. It marks the second straight season that the award has gone to a player from the Big 12 Conference, following the selection of Roy Williams of Oklahoma in 2001. He is the fourth Wildcat to ever be nominated for the Thorpe Award, following Jaime Mendez (1992, 1993), Chris Canty (1995, 1996) and Jarrod Cooper (2000). He was just the second player in school history to be among the three finalists for the award, following Chris Canty in both 1995 and 1996.
The award is the latest in a long list for the Salina, Kan., native. Newman was named a first team All-American as a defensive back by both College Football News and ESPN.com earlier this week. He also received honorable mention as a kick returner by College Football News. A first team All-Big 12 selection as both a defensive back and kick returner by the league coaches, Newman was a consensus winner of the league's Defensive Player of the Year award, earning the honor from the Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star and the coaches. He was also one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes annually to the nation's top defensive player. He was a CNNSI.com Midseason honorable mention All-American.
Constantly avoided by offenses, Newman ranked third among defensive backs and ninth overall on the team in total tackles with 44, including 34 solo tackles. He tied for the team lead in interceptions with five, while he posted a team-best 14 pass breakups. Against Missouri, he became only the ninth Wildcat ever to get 10 career picks and moved into a tie for sixth on the all-time list.
One of the nation's best all-around players, Newman not only dominated on the defensive side of the football, but was also a threat on offense and special teams. He scored 26 points on a 51-yard pass reception on offense against Western Kentucky, a 40-yard punt return against Louisiana-Monroe, a 71-yard punt return at Missouri, a 95-yard kickoff return against Eastern Illinois and a 90-yard defensive extra-point on a blocked-kick return against USC. He is only the third Wildcat in history to have scored on both a kickoff and punt return and only the second to have accomplished that feat in the same season. He ranked third on the team with 754 all-purpose yards behind running back Darren Sproles and quarterback Ell Roberson.