Aaron Lewis is generating plenty of buzz this summer, the Rutgers football defensive end being named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award.
The award is given annually to the top defensive player in college football.
In mid-July, Lewis was named to the 2023 All-Big Ten team by Pro Football Focus. The hype around Lewis is warranted, given his strong second season at Rutgers.
In 2022, Lewis racked up 54 tackles and 1.5 sacks in addition to a forced fumble for Rutgers. He was the only Rutgers player to earn an All-Big Ten team designation from PFF.
This will be the third season at Rutgers for Lewis, who transferred from Michigan prior to the 2020 season.
Aaron Lewis has been named to the Bednarik Award watchlist.
The award is given to the best defensive player in college football. @aaron_lewis71 | @BednarikAward pic.twitter.com/ree9tTVYqh
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) August 14, 2023
The last two winners of the Bednarik Award came from Georgia (Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis in 2021 and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. in 2022).
Chase Young, a defensive end at Ohio State, was the last player from the Big Ten to win the Bednarik Award. Now with the Washington Commanders, Young won the award in 2019.
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