Two Longhorns named to Bednarik Award watch list, top defensive player

Texas Safety Caden Sterns and linebacker Joseph Ossai were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list on Monday.

Texas safety Caden Sterns and linebacker Joseph Ossai were recently named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

The coveted honor is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football. It is judged by members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA head coaches, and sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.

Although this award was established in 1995, no Texas player has ever received it. Former defensive standouts Chase Young, Josh Allen, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Aaron Donald and Tyrann Mathieu have each been recent winners.

Ossai is expected to play at the Jack position this season where he’ll become a dedicated edge rusher. He caught the world by storm in the 2019 Alamo Bowl against No. 11 Utah, recording three sacks and nine tackles while earning Defensive MVP honors.

Sterns was a former five-star prospect and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. After earning first-team All-Big 12 honors as a true freshman, Sterns took a step back as a sophomore due to injuries. He was named a first-team All-Texas selection by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine in 2020, is expected to be one of the primary leaders of new defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s defensive unit.