OU's Jefferson Named Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week

After recording a team-high seven tackles and an interception for Oklahoma in its 63-21 win over Texas, junior safety Tony Jefferson has been named the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week.

Jefferson also added a team-high two tackles for loss and was one of the defenders in on an Oklahoma safety that extended the OU lead to 29-2 in the second quarter.

Jefferson was a member of the 2012 Jim Thorpe Preseason Watch List released this past summer after garnering All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades in 2011. The Chula Vista, Calif., native was also named to the Bednarik, Camp and Nagurski Award watch lists.

The Thorpe Award is named after history's greatest athlete, Jim Thorpe, and is presented by the Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City. Thorpe excelled at every sport in which he competed, including football at which he played on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The 2012 Olympics marked the 100-year anniversary of Thorpe winning gold in the decathlon and pentathlon at the Stockholm Olympics.

The Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6, 2012, on ESPN.