Tag: Bednarik Award Watch List

Sooners defensive lineman Jalen Redmond added to Bednarik Award watch list

Expected to have a big 2022, defensive tackle Jalen Redmond was named to the Bednarik Award watch list.

[autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] is one of the most important pieces returning from the 2021 squad for Oklahoma in 2022. In 2021, Redmond was limited to eight games due to injury but was an effective player for the Sooners defensive line.

According to Pro Football Focus, only [autotag]Nik Bonitto[/autotag] had a higher defensive grade than Redmond among players with at least 100 snaps. As a run defender, only [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] had a better run defense grade than Redmond. Redmond also had the fourth-highest grade pass rush grade behind Bonitto, [autotag]Isaiah Thomas[/autotag], and [autotag]Perrion Winfrey[/autotag].

In his eight games, Redmond recorded 19 tackles, eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Heading into the 2022 season under a new defensive coordinator and with an opportunity to play a significant role for the Sooners, Redmond has a chance to be one of the standout players on this team. On Monday, he was named to the Bednarik Award watch list.

Since its inaugural award in 1995, the Bednarik Award is handed out to the best defensive player in the country. The only Sooner to win the award was Teddy Lehman back in 2003. If Redmond could win the award, it would only be the fifth time that a defensive tackle had been given the honor. The other four were Ndamukong Suh, Aaron Donald, Jonathan Allen, and Jordan Davis.

If Jalen Redmond can play a complete season, he should have a productive year for the Oklahoma Sooners.

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Oklahoma Sooners’ Nik Bonitto announced as national semifinalist for Bednarik Award

Oklahoma Sooners outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was announced as one of the national semifinalists for the Bednarik Award.

Oklahoma redshirt junior outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has been terrorizing opposing offenses and quarterbacks all season long. Now, he’s earned the nod as one of the national semifinalists for the Bednarik Award.

On the season, Bonitto has recorded 28 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, seven quarterback hurries and has recovered a pair of fumbles.

Bonitto’s best performances of the season came against Nebraska, Kansas State and Texas. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product registered three tackles for loss and two sacks against the Cornhuskers.

Against Kansas State, Bonitto finished with a pair of tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Then, in the Red River Showdown against the Longhorns, Bonitto tallied 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks with three quarterback hurries.

The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player in college football and Bonitto is the only Big 12 player represented as one of its semifinalists.

Georgia is the lone school with a pair of players that made the cut: defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean.

The rest of the Bednarik Award semifinalists includes: Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr.; Auburn’s Roger McCreary; Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner; Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson; Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson; Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton; Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux; Penn State’s Jaquan Brisker; Purdue’s George Karlaftis; San Diego State’s Cameron Thomas; South Carolina’s Kingsley Enagbare; Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal; Utah’s Devin Lloyd; Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal; and Wyoming’s Chad Muma.

Teddy Lehman is the only Sooner to have won the Bednarik Award and that happened in the 2003 season.

Bonitto can impress in Oklahoma’s final three games at No. 13 Baylor, home against Iowa State and at No. 11 Oklahoma State.

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Sooners Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas land on Chuck Bednarik Award watch list

Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas named to Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

It is that time of year again. At the cusp of the 2021 college football season, watch list season begins commemorating some of the playmakers between the hash marks. The Oklahoma Sooners are once again in contention for the national title, and several players donning Crimson and Cream will likely receive accolades for their accomplishments on the gridiron this upcoming season.

Both Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas were named to the Chuck Bednarik watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday. The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.

The Bednarik Award watch list features 90 candidates on defense. The winner will be announced during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 9, 2021. The award has been presented each year dating back to 1995 and is given in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a prolific player from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (class of ’69) and the NFL Hall of Fame (class of ’67).

Nik Bonitto has made his mark with the Sooners and across the college football landscape. He is the top returning edge rusher in 2021. Last season he notched 10.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries.

From a two-point stance in Alex Grinch’s scheme, Bonitto’s power and speed combination off the edge are lethal. Following his impressive campaign, Bonitto was credited by PFF with the nation’s top pressure rate (25.7%), pass rush grade (93.5), and pass-rush win rate (28.5%). He helped turn Grinch’s defensive front into one of the most formidable, along with Isaiah Thomas.

Thomas played both defensive end and defensive tackle last season and was rated by PFF at the conclusion of 2020 as the nation’s No. 74 overall player. He led the Sooners in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (13.0). In addition, he notched 32 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, eight quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups. Thomas helped set the tone in the trenches.

Both are key cornerstones in Grinch’s scheme and will be players to keep an eye on in 2021.