Horns247 Board

two other Longhorns should be in contention as well

Despite losing three cornerbacks to the NFL Draft last year, the Longhorns managed to put together the best secondary in the pass-heavy Big 12 in 2011.

Texas gave up a conference-low 209.8 yards per game last season and held opposing passers to a 56.6 completion percentage, the Big 12′s second-best mark. Cornerbacks Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs both earned all-conference honors with Byndom making the AP All-Big 12 First team and Diggs getting the Defensive Freshman of the Year award.

But it was safety Kenny Vaccaro that proclaimed himself a 2012 Thorpe Award candidate last December after the Holiday Bowl while he was announcing decision to return to the Longhorns for his senior season.

“I wanna win the Thorpe,” Vaccaro said. “Then I want to go to South Beach.”

Vaccaro, referring to the Orange Bowl, site of this upcoming season’s national title game, is one of three Texas defensive backs that, according to ESPN’s KC Joyner, are among the Big 12 players with the best chance to win the Thorpe Award this year. Byndom topped the list.

“Byndom displayed a rare shutdown ability by allowing only 48 yards on 10 targets versus Justin Blackmon last year,” Joyner writes. “The 15 PBUs were tied for third-most in the FBS. Texas is one of the favorites to win the Big 12 and should get a lrge amount of national television coverage this year.”

After a pair of Oklahoma State Cowboys, Justin Gilbert and Broderick Brown, was Diggs at No. 4 while Vaccaro checked in at No. 6.

“Diggs was one of the most impressive true freshmen in college football last year, as his 19 passes defended were tied for third-most in the FBS. His four interceptions ranked tied for fourth in the Big 12, and that total could have been much higher if Diggss cashed in on some of the seven near-interceptions he had,” Joyner wrote. “The coverage and ballhawking numbers don’t quite do Vaccaro’s skill set justice, as he also racked up 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and seven pressure. That across-the-board stat impact earned Vaccaro a spot on the All-Big 12 first-team squad.”

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/07/writer-texas-cb-carrington-byndom-the-big-12s-best-thorpe-award-candidate-two-other-longhorns-should-be-in-contention-as-well.html/