Full Bednarik Award Watch List Release | PDF

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch list for the 26th annual Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.

Ball State CB Antonio Phillips, Buffalo DE Taylor Riggins, Central Michigan LB Troy Brown & Miami S Sterling Weatherford represent the MAC on the this year's list.

An All-MAC First Team selection as a junior last season, Phillips ranked second in the league with four interceptions, just one behind fellow BSU cornerback Amechi Uzodinma II. He picked off a pass in the season opener against Indiana and later tallied interceptions in consecutive conference games against Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Ohio.

Riggins is coming off a breakout campaign for the Bulls. The senior defensive end was named All-MAC First Team after tallying 8.5 sacks, the second most in the Mid-American Conference. He added 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries on the season.

Weatherford started in all 14 games last year, finishing second on the team with 98 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The junior added seven tackles and three pass breakups in a win over Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game.

A team captain, Brown led the Chippewas in total tackles (91) and solo tackles (75) last season. Brown made 16.5 tackles-for-loss last season, leading the MAC and ranking 23rd nationally. He also had three interceptions.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 3, 2020, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled November 23, 2020. The winner of the 2020 Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2020. The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel &Casino Atlantic City on March 12, 2021.

The Maxwell and Bednarik Awards are members of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.