LSU senior cornerback Mansoor Delane was recognized for his excellence on Tuesday afternoon by being named 1 of 3 finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to the best defensive back in the country.
The award isn’t just based on performance on the field. Athletic ability and character also factor into the Jim Thorpe Award. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who used to play at Alabama, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore were also named as finalists alongside Delane.
While LSU has struggled as a team on the field this season, Delane has thrived in his first year as a Tiger after transferring from Virginia Tech. He leads LSU and is ranked 2nd in the SEC in passes defended with 12. Delane has shown a nose for the ball this fall, with 2 interceptions and 10 pass breakups along with 40 total tackles, 25 of them solo tackles.
LSU football’s social media account called Delane “the best defensive back in America” in its post on Tuesday that celebrated him being a Jim Thorpe Award finalist.
Despite LSU’s struggles as a team, Delane has helped the Tigers achieve a top ranking in the SEC in pass efficiency defense.
LSU has a rich recent history when it comes to the Jim Thorpe Award, with 3 winners in just the past 15 years. Patrick Peterson got the recent tradition started in 2010 by winning the award, with Morris Claiborne capturing the honor the following year and Grant Delpit taking the prize in 2019.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
