University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana's Gordon Earns Thorpe Award National Honors
9/29/2026 12:48:00 PM | Football
Sophomore cornerback helped lead Cajuns' defensive effort against 49ers
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Sophomore cornerback Brent Gordon Jr. picked up national honors on Tuesday as he was named the Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week after an impressive all-around performance in Louisiana's 34-7 road win over Charlotte.
Gordon totaled seven tackles (four solo), two tackles for loss, one interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, helping the Ragin' Cajuns hold Charlotte to the fewest total yards allowed by Louisiana since 2001.
The Breaux Bridge, La., native and former Cecilia High product also contributed a 36-yard punt return. The standout effort also earned Gordon Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Louisiana (3-1) will return to action on Saturday at 7 p.m., when it faces Arkansas State in the annual Homecoming Game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
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.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
BUY SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets for Ragin' Cajuns football are now on sale, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy the excitement 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 upcoming games or call (337) 482-4685 for more information.
MOBILE PARKING HERE FOR 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).
Gordon totaled seven tackles (four solo), two tackles for loss, one interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, helping the Ragin' Cajuns hold Charlotte to the fewest total yards allowed by Louisiana since 2001.
The Breaux Bridge, La., native and former Cecilia High product also contributed a 36-yard punt return. The standout effort also earned Gordon Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Louisiana (3-1) will return to action on Saturday at 7 p.m., when it faces Arkansas State in the annual Homecoming Game at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
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.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
BUY SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets for Ragin' Cajuns football are now on sale, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy the excitement 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 upcoming games or call (337) 482-4685 for more information.
MOBILE PARKING HERE FOR 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
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