Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award

Chuck Bednarik Award for nation’s top defensive player names one Alabama player to semifinal list.

The Alabama Crimson Tide entered the 2024 season with College Football Playoff aspirations despite a change in the head coaching position. After two losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee in October, Alabama’s chances to make the first 12-team Playoff seemed about toast.

However, the Tide responded massively with a 34-0 shutout against No. 21 Missouri before steamrolling No. 15 LSU in Baton Rouge 42-13 this past weekend. Jalen Milroe and the offense got a lot of shine in the headlines for their work in those two games, but the defense was equally impressive.

Unfortunately, the victory over LSU wasn’t without consequences as edge rusher Que Robinson suffered a left arm injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the year. Now, Alabama will have to rely even more heavily on their star linebackers Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell.

Campbell has been phenomenal for Kane Wommack’s defense this year with 78 total tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. As a result, the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player, has named Campbell a semi-finalist.

If Campbell can finish out the year strong and bring the award back to Tuscaloosa, he would be the fourth Alabama player to do so alongside Jonathan Allen (2016), Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017) and Will Anderson (2022).

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