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The Bednarik Award is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the best defensive player in college football. Named after the last full-time two-way player in the NFL, Chuck Bednarik, the award was established in 1995.
Bednarik was a three-time All-American at Penn from 1945-48. In a long and illustrious career for the Philadelphia Eagles, he was a 10-time first team All-Pro. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On Aug. 12, the Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 2024 Bednarik Award. Here is some introductory information about 10 players named on the prestigious list:
Bear Alexander, Defensive Tackle, USC Trojans
After beginning his college career with the Georgia Bulldogs, Alexander transferred to USC in 2023. In his first season with the Trojans, the 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle from Terrel, Texas, made 48 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks. He also had 4 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass breakup. A force to be reckoned with, he started 12 games for USC in 2023.
Tyler Batty, EDGE, BYU Cougars
Batty is a 6-foot-5, 275-pound edge rusher from Payson, Utah. Entering his senior year, he has 15 career sacks. Furthermore, he ranks fifth among all active Power Four players with 101 career quarterback pressures. Named second-team All-Big 12 Conference in 2023, Batty has been named preseason All-Big 12 this year. He is majoring in nutritional science studies at BYU.
Ben Bell, EDGE, Texas State Bobcats
A 6-foot-2, 250-pound edge rusher from Cedar Park, Texas, Bell began his career at Lousiana Tech and transferred to Texas State as a sophomore in 2022. He had a breakout season last year, recording 57 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble. He was named second team All-Sun Belt Conference. The senior is studying applied arts and sciences.
Jordan Bertagnole, Defenisve Tackle, Wyoming Cowboys
A graduate student from Casper, Wyo., Bertagnole started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the Cowboys last year, earning second team All-Mountain West Conference honors. He made 60 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 2 quarterback sacks. He forced 1 fumble, had 6 QB hurries and broke up 2 passes. He has played his entire collegiate career in Wyoming.
Tacario Davis, Cornerback, Arizona Wildcats
Davis is a 6-foot-4 defensive back from Long Beach, Calif. As a sophomore, he started 11 games for the Wildcats last season and led the Pac-12 Conference with 15 pass breakups and 16 passes defended. He also made 25 tackles and snagged an interception against Washington State. The Associated Press named him second team All-Pac 12.
College Football Dawgs and Maxwell Football Club Forge Partnership
Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Boise State Broncos
A native of Cairo, Hassanein is a 6-foot-3, 271-pound edge rusher who has played his entire career for Boise State. In 2023, Hassanein finished second in the MWC with 12.5 sacks and third in the conference with 16.5 tackles for loss, on his way to first team All-MWC honors. He has also been named to the 2024 Bronko Nagusrki watch list.
Ike Larsen, Safety, Utah State Aggies
During his sophomore campaign in 2023, Larsen earned honorable mention All-American honors and was named first team All-MWC. In his relatively short collegiate career, he has already blocked a jaw-dropping 5 kicks, including 4 punts and one attempted point after touchdown. He is a ball-hawking safety for the Aggies and a dynamic runner who has racked up 169 interception return yards.
Elijah Roberts, EDGE, SMU Mustangs
Roberts is a graduate student who transferred to SMU from the Miami Hurricanes before the 2023 season. A 6-foot-4, 295-pound edge rusher from Miami, he started all 14 games for the Mustangs last year, making 37 tackles and leading the team with 10 QB sacks. He has been named a 2024 Action Sports first team All-American.
Junior Tafuna, Defensive Tackle, Utah Utes
A 6-foot-3, 308-pound defensive tackle from Taylorsville, Utah, Tafuna is an economics major. He has played his entire collegiate career for the Utes. In 2021, he was honored as the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. Tafuna has started 36 consecutive games for the Utes and was a three-time member of the Pac-12 All-Conference Team.
Jackson Woodard, Linebacker, UNLV Rebels
From Little Rock, Ark., Woodard began his collegiate career at Arkansas and transferred to UNLV before the 2023 season. He has been selected as one of the Rebels' team captains and is a nominee for the Danny Wuerffel Trophy based on his outstanding community service and performance on the field. He started all 14 games for UNLV in 2023 and finished second in the MWC with 117 tackles.
Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs for reporting on the progress of the players competing for the prestigious Bednarik Award throughout the 2024 season.
Check out who else made the Bednarik Award Watch List!
The 2024 Bednarik Award Watch List: 21-30
Also, check out who is on the Maxwell Award Watch List!
This article is brought to you by the Maxwell Football Club, home of the prestigious Maxwell & Chuck Bednarik Awards. Become a member of the Maxwell Football Club and gain the exclusive privilege of voting for these and other nationally-recognized awards.
With over 75 years of honoring football’s finest, the Maxwell Football Club offers you the unique opportunity to help recognize top talent from high school to the professional level. By joining, you’ll be part of a tradition that celebrates excellence and helps shape the game's future.
Be part of the excitement at the Maxwell Football Awards Gala held in March 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. At the Gala, you will experience the official presentation of the awards. Don’t miss your chance to contribute to football history. Become a member TODAY by visiting https://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/jointheclub.
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