OKLAHOMA CITY — Three days after earning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors, UTSA sophomore Rashad Wisdom has been named the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Player of the Week for his performance in the 52-21 victory over UTEP.
Wisdom registered nine tackles and a pair of forced fumbles to help guide the Roadrunners to the Homecoming rout of the Miners last Saturday at the Alamodome. The safety tallied seven solo stops as part of his team-high tackles total to help UTSA hold UTEP to 246 yards of offense, including only 71 as part of a second-half shutout. He became the 14th FBS player this season to cause two fumbles in a game, including one in the third quarter that was recovered by Antonio Parks and led to a touchdown drive that put UTSA up 38-21.
The Converse Judson High School product has posted 72 tackles through nine games this season to rank third in C-USA and 12th nationally.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation's top collegiate sports honors.
The Roadrunners will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss this Saturday, Nov. 21. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM.
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