Nov. 9, 2000

Oklahoma City, Okla. - Baylor senior cornerback Gary Baxter has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate defensive back.

Baxter, a 6-2, 203-pound native of Tyler, Texas, is rated as the No. 1 senior cornerback in the nation by NFL draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr. A preseason All-Big 12 Conference pick, Baxter has 75 tackles (46 solo), three tackles for loss, a sack, 10 pass deflections and two forced fumbles this season for the Bears.

The 10 semifinalists include Will Allen of Syracuse, Leo Barnes of Southern Miss, James Boyd of Penn State, Baxter, Robert Carswell of Clemson, Nate Clements of Ohio State, Nijrell Eason of Arizona State, Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin, Andre Lott of Tennesse, Dwight Smith of Akron, Fred Smoot of Mississippi State and J.T. Thatcher of Oklahoma.

Three finalists will be named Nov. 21, with the winner to be announced Dec. 7 at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Baxter is seeking to become the second Baylor Bear to win the prestigious Thorpe Award. Thomas Everett won the inaugural Thorpe in 1986.