The Jim Thorpe Award for the best defensive back in college football was created in 1986. The award was immediately accepted as one of the nation's top collegiate sports honors. Winners are judged on their performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
A watch list of outstanding defensive backs is determined at the beginning of the football season and a Jim Thorpe Association Screening committee composed of former players, coaches, journalists and representatives of major conferences to determine the winner.
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Miami's Bennie Blades, a two-time All-American was named co-winner of the Jim Thorpe Award in 1987, along with Oklahoma's Rickey Dixon.
Blades was the leader of a secondary at Miami that was considered by many to be one of the nation's finest units in 1987. He led all UM defensive backs in interceptions and tackles.
Bennie Blades, perhaps the nation's most noted interception specialist (19 career), established himself as an outstanding and aggressive tackler. In his 32 career starts at the free safety position, he averaged 8.2 tackles per game. In 1987 alone, he averaged 11 stops per game.
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