Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers was presented the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top defensive back, Thursday night at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Rogers becomes Auburn’s sixth winner of a major national award and first since 1988.

“It feels great to win the Jim Thorpe Award,” said Rogers. “I would like to thank Coach Chizik (defensive coordinator) and Coach Tuberville for helping me get to this level. It’s a great honor to be considered as the top defensive back in the country. One of the reasons I came back for my senior season was to show that I was one of the nation’s best defensive backs. I am very honored.”

A native of Augusta, Ga., Rogers only had 18 passes completed against him this season. He totaled 41 tackles, five tackles for loss, 10 broken up passes and two interceptions including one that was returned for a touchdown against Louisiana Tech.

Rogers joins Zeke Smith who won the 1958 Outland Trophy, 1971 and 1985 Heisman Trophy winners Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson and Tracy Rocker who won both the 1988 Outland and Lombardi Trophies as Auburn’s major awards winners.

One of the senior leaders of the defense, Rogers was also recognized as a Walter Camp All-America selection during the show. A four-year starter, he helped Auburn lead the nation in scoring defense and rank fifth in total defense. The Tigers are also ranked eighth nationally in pass defense.

The award is named in honor of Jim Thorpe, a first-team Walter Camp All-America selection in 1911 and 1912. He won gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics, played professional baseball, and in 1920, was elected the first president of what would become the National Football League.

Previous winners of the Jim Thorpe Award include: Thomas Everett, Baylor (1986); Rickey Dixon, Oklahoma (1987); Bennie Blades, Miami (1987); Deion Sanders, Florida State (1988); Mark Carrier, USC (1989); Darryll Lewis, Arizona (1990); Terrell Buckley, Florida State (1991); Deon Figures, Colorado (1992); Antonio Langham, Alabama (1993); Chris Hudson, Colorado (1994); Greg Myers, Colorado State (1995); Lawrence Wright, Florida (1996); Charles Woodson, Michigan (1997); Antoine Winfield, Ohio State (1998); Tyrone Carter, Minnesota (1999); Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin (2000); Roy Williams, Oklahoma (2001); Terence Newman, Kansas State (2002); Derrick Strait, Oklahoma (2003).