The watch list for the 2020 Chuck Bednarik Award–the award given to the defensive player of the year in college football–dropped today and Wisconsin junior linebacker Jack Sanborn was included on the list.
The 2020 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list has dropped! pic.twitter.com/IVCJrjhRhi
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) July 13, 2020
Sanborn will be looking to become the first Badger to ever win the award in its 26 year history, that obviously if the Wisconsin Badgers are able to play football this fall.
The Illinois native enters the season after an impressive 2019 campaign during which he recorded 80 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble.
With Chris Orr now gone to the NFL Sanborn is in line to become the “quarterback” on defensive and lead Jim Leonhard’s unit as they try to recreate what was an impressive 2019 campaign.
Notable names to recently win the award include Ohio State’s Chase Young, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald, LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh.