University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Gordon Named To Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
8/13/2026 11:43:00 AM | Football
Former Cecilia High product among 35 players named to list recognizing nation's top defensive back
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football standout Brent Gordon Jr. was one of 35 players named Wednesday to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, released by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and the Jim Thorpe Association.
The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Gordon, a Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, recorded 62 tackles, an interception, 12 passes defended, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery as a true freshman in 2025.
The Breaux Bridge, La., native and former Cecilia High standout played in the final 12 games of the season, making 11 starts. He recorded six tackles in his first career start at nationally-ranked Missouri before posting a season-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, the following week at Eastern Michigan.
Gordon added five tackles and recorded his first career interception to stop a ULM drive in overtime during Louisiana's 30-27 victory in the 2025 regular-season finale.
ABOUT THE PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD
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.
BUY SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for Ragin' Cajuns football are now on sale, giving fans the opportunity to secure their seats at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium for the 2026 season. The six-game home schedule features non-conference matchups against Lamar and UAB, along with Sun Belt Conference foes Arkansas State, Troy, South Alabama and Coastal Carolina.
Fans can CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the upcoming football season or call (337) 482-4685 for more information.
BUY SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets for Louisiana Football's six Saturday home games at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium are currently on sale.
Single-game tickets are available for as low as $30 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com and its social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram).
SINGLE-GAME PARKING AND TAILGATING SPOTS NOW AVAILABLE
Fans can park on the athletic footprint on a single-game basis starting at just $20. Make your gameday experience even better by purchasing a single-game tailgate spot.
RAGIN' $15 PACKAGE AVAILABLE IN 2026
Calling all faculty, family, and fanatics! New this season, Louisiana Athletics is offering $15 single-game tickets in designated sections for the following groups:
Faculty - Section 127
Families - Section 113
Fanatics - Section 105
Grab your fellow coworkers, aunts and uncles, and your die-hard Cajuns fan to take advantage of this special offer! Be on the lookout for the same deal to happen at all other ticketed sports this season. Tickets for each home game will go on sale two weeks before the game. Faculty and staff, be on the lookout for an email sent to your staff email with a link to your ticket deal.
MOBILE PARKING IS HERE FOR THE 2026 SEASON
As part of its continued commitment to providing a faster, safer and more convenient game-day experience, Louisiana Athletics is transitioning to mobile parking passes beginning with the 2026 season. With fans already using mobile tickets for entry, moving parking passes to a digital format creates a more seamless experience from arrival to kickoff.
Easy Access
Parking passes will be available directly on your smartphone through your Cajuns Account, eliminating the need for paper hangtags. Digital passes help reduce the chance of a pass being lost, stolen or forgotten on game day.
Simple Management
Fans can conveniently access, download or transfer their parking passes at any time through the #GeauxCajuns app or their Cajuns Account, making it easy to share parking with family and friends when needed.
Greater Flexibility
Mobile parking allows Louisiana Athletics to distribute parking passes quickly once schedules are finalized. If game dates or kickoff times change, updates are reflected automatically in your digital wallet, ensuring you always have the most current information.
Important Information
This transition applies only to standard parking passes. Tailgating passes will continue to be issued as physical hangtags and distributed using the same process as in previous seasons.
Fans are encouraged to stay connected with Louisiana Football by downloading the official #GeauxCajuns App — click here for iOS and here for Android — and by following the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB).
The award is presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Gordon, a Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, recorded 62 tackles, an interception, 12 passes defended, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery as a true freshman in 2025.
The Breaux Bridge, La., native and former Cecilia High standout played in the final 12 games of the season, making 11 starts. He recorded six tackles in his first career start at nationally-ranked Missouri before posting a season-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, the following week at Eastern Michigan.
Gordon added five tackles and recorded his first career interception to stop a ULM drive in overtime during Louisiana's 30-27 victory in the 2025 regular-season finale.
ABOUT THE PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD
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.
BUY SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for Ragin' Cajuns football are now on sale, giving fans the opportunity to secure their seats at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium for the 2026 season. The six-game home schedule features non-conference matchups against Lamar and UAB, along with Sun Belt Conference foes Arkansas State, Troy, South Alabama and Coastal Carolina.
Fans can CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the upcoming football season or call (337) 482-4685 for more information.
BUY SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets for Louisiana Football's six Saturday home games at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium are currently on sale.
Single-game tickets are available for as low as $30 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com and its social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram).
SINGLE-GAME PARKING AND TAILGATING SPOTS NOW AVAILABLE
Fans can park on the athletic footprint on a single-game basis starting at just $20. Make your gameday experience even better by purchasing a single-game tailgate spot.
RAGIN' $15 PACKAGE AVAILABLE IN 2026
Calling all faculty, family, and fanatics! New this season, Louisiana Athletics is offering $15 single-game tickets in designated sections for the following groups:
Faculty - Section 127
Families - Section 113
Fanatics - Section 105
Grab your fellow coworkers, aunts and uncles, and your die-hard Cajuns fan to take advantage of this special offer! Be on the lookout for the same deal to happen at all other ticketed sports this season. Tickets for each home game will go on sale two weeks before the game. Faculty and staff, be on the lookout for an email sent to your staff email with a link to your ticket deal.
MOBILE PARKING IS HERE FOR THE 2026 SEASON
As part of its continued commitment to providing a faster, safer and more convenient game-day experience, Louisiana Athletics is transitioning to mobile parking passes beginning with the 2026 season. With fans already using mobile tickets for entry, moving parking passes to a digital format creates a more seamless experience from arrival to kickoff.
Easy Access
Parking passes will be available directly on your smartphone through your Cajuns Account, eliminating the need for paper hangtags. Digital passes help reduce the chance of a pass being lost, stolen or forgotten on game day.
Simple Management
Fans can conveniently access, download or transfer their parking passes at any time through the #GeauxCajuns app or their Cajuns Account, making it easy to share parking with family and friends when needed.
Greater Flexibility
Mobile parking allows Louisiana Athletics to distribute parking passes quickly once schedules are finalized. If game dates or kickoff times change, updates are reflected automatically in your digital wallet, ensuring you always have the most current information.
Important Information
This transition applies only to standard parking passes. Tailgating passes will continue to be issued as physical hangtags and distributed using the same process as in previous seasons.
Fans are encouraged to stay connected with Louisiana Football by downloading the official #GeauxCajuns App — click here for iOS and here for Android — and by following the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB).
Players Mentioned
CB
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