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The Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the top defensive back in college football. It is voted on by the Jim Thorpe Association
| Year | Winner | School |
| 2006 | Aaron Ross | Texas |
| 2005 | Michael Huff | Texas |
| 2004 | Carlos Rogers | Auburn |
| 2003 | Derrick Strait | Oklahoma |
| 2002 | Terence Newman | Kansas State |
| 2001 | Roy Williams | Oklahoma |
| 2000 | Jamar Fletcher | Wisconsin |
| 1999 | Tyrone Carter | Minnesota |
| 1998 | Antoine Winfield | Ohio State |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Michigan |
| 1996 | Lawrence Wright | Florida |
| 1995 | Greg Myers | Colorado State |
| 1994 | Chris Hudson | Colorado |
| 1993 | Antonio Langham | Alabama |
| 1992 | Deon Figures | Colorado |
| 1991 | Terrell Buckley | Florida State |
| 1990 | Darryll Lewis | Arizona |
| 1989 | Mark Carrier | USC |
| 1988 | Deion Sanders | Florida State |
| 1987 | Bennie Blades | Miami, Fla. |
| Rickey Dixon | Oklahoma | |
| 1986 | Thomas Everett | Baylor |
