PHILADELPHIA – Buffalo linebacker Shaun Dolac and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell represented the Mid-American Conference on the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club today.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Last season, Dolac led the MAC and ranked second in the nation in tackles with 147. He had a school-record 97 solo tackles which was the most in the nation. He also led the Bulls in tackles-for-loss (13.5) and sacks (4.5).
Mitchell led the nation with 25 passes defended (five interceptions, 20 breakups) in 2022, and was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus, and third-team All-America by the Associated Press. A first-team All-MAC selection in 2022, gained national prominence after he collected four interceptions and two pick sixes in a 52-32 victory over Northern Illinois on Oct. 8. He was named to the 2023 Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team, the only player from the Mid-American Conference and one of only three Group of Five conference players on the team.
This marks the third watch list that both Dolac and Mitchell have been selected to this preseason.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled November 28, 2023. The winners of the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
#MACtion on the 2023 Watch Lists
Maxwell Award Watch List
Alex Adams | WR | Akron
Marquez Cooper | RB | Ball State
Samson Evans | RB | Eastern Michigan
Kurtis Rourke | QB | Ohio
Dequan Finn | QB | Toledo
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Shaun Dolac | LB | Buffalo
Marcus Fuqua | S | Buffalo
Maxen Hook | S | Toledo
Donte Kent | CB | Central Michigan
Quinyon Mitchell | CB | Toledo
Devonte O'Malley | DT | NIU
Outland Trophy Watch List
Ethan Crowe | C | Ball State
Nolan Potter | OT | NIU
Nick Rosi | OT | Toledo
Deiyantei Powell-Woods | G | Central Michigan
Daymond Williams | DT | Buffalo
Lou Groza Watch List
Alex McNulty | K | Buffalo
Jesús Gómez | K | Eastern Michigan
Ray Guy Watch List
Dom Dzioban | P | Miami
Lucas Borrow | P | Ball State
Mitchell Tomasek | P | Eastern Michigan
Wuerffel Award Watch List
Clayton Coll | LB | Ball State
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim | WR | BGSU
Austin Osborne | WR | BGSU
Brock Horne | LB | BGSU
Darren Anders | LB | BGSU
Demetrius Hardamon | LB | BGSU
Max Michel | DE | Buffalo
Robi Stuart | DL | Central Michigan
Brian Dooley | OL | Eastern Michigan
Dallas Gant | LB | Toledo
Boone Bonnema | LB | Western Michigan
Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Ron Cook Jr. | RB | Buffalo
Trayvon Rudolph | WR | Northern Illinois
Jacquez Stuart | RB | Toledo
The Rimington Trophy Watch List
Jacob Gideon | C | Western Michigan
Mackey Award Watch List
Brady Hunt | TE | Ball State
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Alex Adams | WR | Akron
Jerjuan Newton | WR | Toledo
Sam Wiglusz | WR | Ohio
Davey O’Brien Watch List
Dequan Finn | QB | Toledo
Kurtis Rourke | QB | Ohio
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Sieh Bangura | RB | Ohio
Samson Evans | RB | Eastern Michigan
Antario Brown | RB | Northern Illinois
Butkus Award Watch List
Shaun Dolac | LB | Buffalo
Dallas Gant | LB | Toledo
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Marcus Fuqua | S | Buffalo
Quinyon Mitchell | CB | Toledo
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Samson Evans | RB | Eastern Michigan
Kurtis Rourke | QB | Ohio
Bednarik Award Watch List
Shaun Dolac | LB | Buffalo
Quinyon Mitchell | CB | Toledo
