Iowa Hawkeyes’ Jack Campbell named a semifinalist for Bednarik, Butkus Awards

Iowa Hawkeyes’ linebacker Jack Campbell is a semifinalist for both the Bednarik and Butkus Awards.

Jack Campbell, the heart and soul of the Iowa Hawkeyes defense, has found himself among the finalists for two nationally prestigious awards given annually. The leader of the Hawkeyes defense, Campbell has proven himself more than worthy to be in the conversation for each of these awards.

The first award Campbell is a finalist for is the Bednarik Award. The Bednarik Award is given out annually to college football’s best defensive player.

The second award Campbell has been named a finalist for is the Butkus Award. Named after former NFL linebacking great, this award is given out to the nation’s best linebacker each year.

Campbell is playing at an exceptionally high level this year, just as he has his entire career with the Hawkeyes. Through eight games this season he has accounted for 80 tackles, averaging 10 per game. That is leading the Hawkeyes defense. He also has a pass deflection and an interception to his credit as well.

But more than that, Campbell is a top-notch teammate. He was nearly as excited for the offense recently as he was his defensive unit.

“It was awesome to see those guys, because I know how hard they work, how hard all the coaches work, so to just see them push it through, I wasn’t really surprised at all, but I was just, it’s just awesome to see other people succeed,” Campbell said when describing what it was like seeing the offense’s success.

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Drew Sanders named semifinalist for Bednarik Award

An SEC player has won the Bednarik Award four of the last six years

If bets were to be taken about which Alabama-related player would lead the SEC in sacks in 2022, most of those bets would have been on Will Anderson.

And while the Crimson Tide edge player remains one of the best defenders in the country, it’s his former teammate who is tops in the SEC when it comes to getting to the quarterback.

Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders, with his 6 1/2 sacks in tow, was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award on Tuesday. The Bednarik Award is given to the nation’s best defensive player.

Sanders, in his first year at Arkansas after transferring from Alabama, has 65 tackles, including 7 1/2 for loss to go along with his 6 1/2 sacks. He also has three pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries.

Last year’s winner was Jordan Davis from Georgia. Players from the SEC have won the Bednarik Award four of the last six years.

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Myles Murphy, Jacoby Windom headline the weekly Bednarik Award honor roll

Seven players make the Bednarik Award’s weekly honor roll from the Maxwell Football Club.

Myles Murphy was absolutely tremendous for Clemson last week as the defensive end made play after play in an important win over Florida State. For his efforts, Murphy was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week as he highlights this week’s weekly honor roll from the Maxwell Football Club.

Murphy’s strong performance leads the way as one of the seven top performers highlighted by the Maxwell Football Club from Week 7 of the college football season.

The Maxwell Football Club awards the Chuck Bednarik Award for the top defensive player in college football. Last season, Georgia’s Jordan Davis was the recipient of the Bednarik Award.

Every March, the club hosts an annual awards gala at the Harrah’s in Atlantic City, N.J. where the winners of the Maxwell Award (for the nation’s top player) as well as the Bednarik Award are honored.

Check out the seven players who made this week’s Bednarik Award Weekly Honor Roll!

What six players made the Bednarik Award’s weekly honor roll?

Six players made the Maxwell Football Club’s weekly honor roll.

This week, North Carolina State’s Drake Thomas was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week. The weekly honor was given out by the Maxwell Football Club.

Drake and North Carolina State face a monster challenge this week when they play at Syracuse on Saturday afternoon. It is a battle of two ranked teams that could and should have implications for the ACC Championship Game.

If Syracuse wins this game, then they are definitely for real. But that is neither here nor there. Back to the Bednarik Award’s Weekly Honor Roll…

The Maxwell Football Club awards the Chuck Bednarik Award for the top defensive player in college football. Last season, Georgia’s Jordan Davis was the recipient of the Bednarik Award.

Every March, the club hosts an annual awards gala at the Harrah’s in Atlantic City, N.J. where the winners of the Maxwell Award (for the nation’s top player) as well as the Bednarik Award are honored.

Check out the six players who made this week’s Bednarik Award Weekly Honor Roll!

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What players made the Bednarik Award’s weekly honor roll?

The Bednarik Award’s weekly honor roll was released for Week 2.

No one had a better week defensively in all of college football than Drew Sanders. The Arkansas linebacker put in a massive showing in a win over South Carolina.

For his efforts, Sanders was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club. He was one of six players to be named by the Maxwell Football Club to their weekly honor roll.

The Maxwell Football Club awards the Chuck Bednarik Award for the top defensive player in college football. Last season, Georgia’s Jordan Davis was the recipient of the Bednarik Award.

Every March, the club hosts an annual awards gala at the Harrah’s in Atlantic City, N.J. where the winners of the Maxwell Award (for the nation’s top player) as well as the Bednarik Award are honored.

Check out the six players who made this week’s Bednarik Award Weekly Honor Roll!

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Husker Linebacker named to Bednarik Watchlist

He would be only the second Husker to ever win the award!

The Bednarik Award is an annual postseason trophy presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year. The Maxwell Football Club has given the award away every year since its inception in 1995. It’s named for Chuck Bednarik, a linebacker who played for Penn from 1945-1948 and was the first overall pick of the 1949 NFL Draft of the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a 2x NFL Champion (1949, 1960), a 10x First-team All-Pro, and a member of the NFL’s 50th, 75th, and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

Husker Linebacker Luke Reimer has been named to the Bednarik watchlist. Last season the Lincoln, Nebraska native had 90 total tackles, one sack, and one interception for the Cornhuskers. Should Reimer win the award, he would be the second Husker after 2009 winner Ndamukong Suh.

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Two Tigers named to Bednarik Award watch list

Auburn’s top returning tacklers have received a mention on the Bednarik Award watch list.

Auburn’s top returning tacklers from last season are expected to have breakout season’s in 2022.

Auburn defensive ends [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag] and [autotag]Colby Wooden[/autotag] are set to be the leaders of the Auburn defense this season and have the credentials to do so.

Both were named to the Bednarik Award preseason watch list. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in college football at season’s end.

Wooden and Hall ended last season No. 4 and No. 5 respectively in total stops, but will take over as the leading returning tacklers in 2022. Wooden had a phenomenal season, making 61 tackles, with 8.5 being for loss and five sacks.

Hall recorded 54 tackles in 2021, but made a home behind the line of scrimmage. Out of his total tackles, nine went for sacks, and he made a total of 12.5 tackles for loss.

The mention is the first preseason watch list that Wooden has become a part of, and it will be the fourth watch list nod for Hall.

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Noah Sewell on the Bednarik Award watch list for best defensive player

Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell is one of 90 defensive players to be named to the Bednarik Award watch list.

Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell was one of the 90 defensive players in college football to be named to the Bednarik Award watch list. The award is given out by the Maxwell Club to the best defensive player in the nation at the end of the season. They also hand out the Maxwell award to the top offensive player, but no Ducks were on that watch list.

It’s no surprise Sewell is on this list and look for him to advance through the process as the season rolls along. He’s expected to be one of the Pac-12’s best defensive players and should be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.

Sewell managed to have a great season in 2021 as he stayed healthy and instead of doing damage to his body, he did damage to opponents. He led the Ducks with 114 tackles to go along with four sacks and an interception.

The award is named for Chuck Bednarik, who played at Penn in the late 1940s where he was a center and linebacker. He’s also in the College Football Hall of Fame.

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Riley Moss and Jack Campbell named to 2022 Bednarik Award watch list

Riley Moss and Jack Campbell have been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List. The award recognizes the most outstanding defensive player.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have two defensive members named to the Bednarik Award watch list for the 2022 college football season. The two athletes are cornerback Riley Moss and linebacker Jack Campbell.

The Bednarik Award is giving out annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player in college football. As two members of the Hawkeyes’ stout defense, Campbell and Moss have earned their way onto this watch list through outstanding outputs.

Last season saw Jack Campbell lead the Iowa Hawkeyes’ defense with 143 total tackles. Riley Moss contributed 39 tackles, four interceptions, and two touchdowns. These two were key cogs on a defense that landed the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship game last season.

This recognition comes on the heels of another watch list that Campbell and Moss found themselves on. The two of them also belong to the 2022 Nagurski Trophy watch list, which is another award given to the nation’s best defensive player. Jack Campbell also boasts the recognition of being picked at the Preseason Big Ten player of the year.

Riley Moss and Jack Campbell appearing on this list makes it nine different Hawkeyes to appear on the watch list since the 2005 season. The previous seven have all made the jump to the NFL, something that is inevitable for the two most recent Iowa Hawkeyes added to the list.

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Jordan Davis wins Bednarik Award, given to nation’s best defensive player

Jordan Davis = best defensive player in the nation

Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis was just named the best defensive player in the nation during Thursday night’s college football awards ceremony.

Davis won the Bednarik Award, which is presented to the best defensive player in college football.

Davis may not have put up the most incredible stats this year due to the nature of his position, but as an interior defensive lineman he’s made as big an impact on games as any player in the nation.

Davis becomes Georgia’s first winner of the Bednarik Award since David Pollack won it in 2004.

This year, Davis has totaled 28 tackles and two sacks. He also added a rushing touchdown in Week 12 against Charleston Southern.