The T-shirts must’ve worked. Michael Taaffe’s idea to create a special shirt honoring Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron was an incredible marketing trick.
“Jahdae for Thorpe,” the shirt read. Taaffe wore it to post-game interviews Saturday after the Kentucky win in support of his fellow Austin native and backfield teammate.
As fate would have it, Barron was named one of three finalists on Tuesday for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s best defensive back.
Truth be told, Barron’s play on the field probably had more sway over the selection committee. He becomes the first Longhorns finalist since DeShon Elliott (2017) and could be just the third winner in school history. Michael Huff won the award in 2005 and Aaron Ross followed the next year.
Taaffe said he came up with the idea with his personal trainer “to recognize what great accomplishments Jahdae has done throughout his career here and get a little attention towards his name.”
Barron almost went pro last season but came back after receiving lower-round draft grades from the NFL advisory committee. Barron went through Texas’ senior day activities last season and everything. But coming back was the best financial decision he’s ever made.
Barron is now a likely late first- or early second-round draft pick, based on several mock draft predictions.
“He came back to be great, but he came back because he wore No. 7,” Taaffe said of Huff’s old number now being worn by Barron. “No. 7 here won Thorpe Award. So it’s kind of cool to see it come all to fruition.”
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