Gabe Taylor Named Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week
10/28/2021 2:54:00 PM | Football
Second weekly award for Taylor
Rice freshman safety Gabe Taylor has been named the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week for his performance in the Owls win over defending Conference USA champion UAB last Saturday. This is the second honor for Taylor this week. He was named Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
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. The winner is announced during the The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN each December.
Taylor was credited with a career-best 10 tackles, forced a fumble and knocked down a game-ending Hail Mary pass in the Owls' 30-24 win over the Blazers. He set up the Owls second touchdown in the opening minutes of the game by forcing a fumble on the Blazers first play from scrimmage after the Owls had taken a 7-0 lead.
Two of his ten tackles forced Blazers punts at the end of the second and start of the third quarter with Rice holding a 20-14 lead.
After the Owls had re-taken the lead with 3:22 left in half, the Blazers were looking to answer before intermission knowing they also were receiving the ball to open the second half. Taylor foiled their first attempt with a stop on third and four stop at the UAB 34 to forced the first Blazers punt of the day. On the opening series of the second half, Taylor made tackles on two of three plays, including stopping a third and three effort. Rice responded with a 10-play, 65 yard drive to push the lead to 27-14. He ended the game by knocking down Dylan Flower's final pass attempt as the clock ran out.
Saturday's win in Birmingham broke a four-game losing streak for Rice against the Blazers and was also UAB's first home conference loss since the program returned to action in 2017 (15 games).
Rice will host North Texas this Saturday in its 101st Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. with coverage on ESPN 3.
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. The winner is announced during the The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN each December.
Taylor was credited with a career-best 10 tackles, forced a fumble and knocked down a game-ending Hail Mary pass in the Owls' 30-24 win over the Blazers. He set up the Owls second touchdown in the opening minutes of the game by forcing a fumble on the Blazers first play from scrimmage after the Owls had taken a 7-0 lead.
Two of his ten tackles forced Blazers punts at the end of the second and start of the third quarter with Rice holding a 20-14 lead.
After the Owls had re-taken the lead with 3:22 left in half, the Blazers were looking to answer before intermission knowing they also were receiving the ball to open the second half. Taylor foiled their first attempt with a stop on third and four stop at the UAB 34 to forced the first Blazers punt of the day. On the opening series of the second half, Taylor made tackles on two of three plays, including stopping a third and three effort. Rice responded with a 10-play, 65 yard drive to push the lead to 27-14. He ended the game by knocking down Dylan Flower's final pass attempt as the clock ran out.
Saturday's win in Birmingham broke a four-game losing streak for Rice against the Blazers and was also UAB's first home conference loss since the program returned to action in 2017 (15 games).
Rice will host North Texas this Saturday in its 101st Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. with coverage on ESPN 3.
Players Mentioned
DB
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