University of Oklahoma Athletics

Roy Williams Named 2001 Jim Thorpe Award Recipient

December 06, 2001 | Football

By: Athletics Communications

Dec. 6, 2001

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  • R. Williams

    ORLANDO, Fla. - Oklahoma junior strong safety Roy Williams was named the recipient of the 2001 Jim Thorpe Award honoring the country's top defensive back. The award was presented by the Jim Thorpe Association Thursday night at the annual Home Depot College Football Awards Show televised on ESPN. Williams, who became the only Sooner since Rickey Dixon in 1987 to claim the award, beat out a list of fellow finalists which included Ed Reed of Miami and Quentin Jammer of Texas.

    The honor adds to a string of 2001 accolades for the Union City, Calif., native who has also been named to numerous All-American teams and designated as the Associated Press Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Williams is also a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award which recognizes the nation's top defensive player.

    Williams finished the 2001 regular season with 101 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 22 pass deflections and a team high five interceptions. This season he became the school's single-season and career passes broken up leader.

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