It’s that time of year again as a new college football season approaches, as watch lists are beginning to be released.
The college football season almost here, which means watch lists are here. So far, the Bednarik Award, the Mackey Award, Maxwell Award and Rimington Trophy watch lists have been released.
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Related: 5 most likely Maxwell Award winners
The Bednarik Award is an annual award for the defensive player of the year in college football. The award is named after Chuck Bednarik, a former college player from the University of Pennsylvania. Bednarik also went on to the play for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
The award was introduced in 1995 and is voted on by members of the Maxwell Football Club. Last year’s winner was defensive end Jonathan Allen of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Allen became the first Alabama player to ever win the award in 2016.
This season’s preseason watch list is headlined by the Ohio State Buckeyes defense. The Buckeyes lead the way with four players on this year’s list, including defensive end Nick Bosa. Bosa is one of six sophomores on the watch list.
The college football season has a lot of promise on the defensive side of the ball. Here’s a look at five potential winners of the Bednarik Award.
5. DT Ed Oliver, Houston
Houston Cougars defensive tackle Ed Oliver had a stellar freshman campaign in 2016. He had 65 tackles (46 solo, 19 assisted), 22.0 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, five sacks and two forced fumbles in the American Conference last season.
Oliver is prime for a big season in 2017 despite a coaching change in Houston. Although Tom Herman bolted for the Texas Longhorns job, the Cougars should still be in good shape on offense and defense. Head coach Major Applewhite returns eight starters on offense, despite losing dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr.
Applewhite will kick off a new era for the Cougars while trying to find a starting quarterback, with plenty of options to choose from. Kyle Allen, a former starter with the Texas A&M Aggies, hopes to bring his SEC experience to challenge for the American Conference title in 2017.
The Cougars return seven starters on the defense, including Oliver. Oliver was the American Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-American Conference selection as well as a first-team All-American despite being only a freshman.
Oliver is due for a breakout year in 2017 so it’s no surprise he’s on this season’s Bednarik Award watch list. He started all 13 games in 2016 as a true freshman. He finished second in the American Conference and fourth in the FBS in tackles for loss.
4. LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is probably a wild card to win next season’s Bednarik Award, but he’s still worth mentioning.
Edmunds is a 6-foot-5, 245-pound linebacker with a knack for stopping the ball. He racked up 94 tackles (49 solo, 45 assisted), 16.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and an interception in 2016.
The Hokies saw tons of success under first-year head coach Justin Fuente, earning their first 10-win season since 2011. They won the ACC Coastal Division and made it to the ACC Championship, losing by one possession to eventual National Champs, the Clemson Tigers.
Virginia Tech returns only five starters on offense but with junior college transfer A.J. Bush, redshirt freshman Josh Jackson, and true freshman Hendon Hooker, finding a new quarterback shouldn’t be too difficult. The offense should be more comfortable in 2017.
Defensively, the Hokies return seven starters with Edmunds leading the way. Edmunds has a ton of help returning including his brother, Terrell, who also plays linebacker and was second on the team last season in tackles (101).
It’s hard to foresee a Bud Foster-led defense taking a step back in 2017, especially with the experience they return. Edmunds was a second-team All-ACC selection after making 14 starts as a full-time starter. He should have a much more productive season next season with one of the best defenses in the conference.
3. DE Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes saw their National Championship hopes dashed early in a 31-0 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the Fiesta Bowl. It was head coach Urban Meyer’s first shutout loss of his career.
As a result, the Buckeyes saw a lot of seniors return looking for vengeance including defensive end Tyquan Lewis. Lewis earned the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2016 despite recording only 29 tackles (17 solo, 12 assisted). He did lead the team in sacks with eight and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Offensively, quarterback J.T. Barrett hopes to find his touch in the passing game again. He hopes to return to his 2014 form when he finished fourth in Heisman voting. With the majority of starters returning (8 on offense, 7 on defense), the Buckeyes look to be the early favorites to win the Big Ten title.
Lewis was part of a unit that allowed just 15.5 points per game in 2016, third in the FBS. He recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups, leading the team in both tackles for loss and sacks.
Lewis numbers were down compared to 2015, however, some of that had to do with his move from defensive tackle to the edge at defensive end. With some experience now under his belt, he looks prime to produce at a high level as evidenced with a spot on the Bednarik Award watch list.
2. CB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
When thinking of ball-hawking cornerbacks in the FBS, it’s hard not to include Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award last season, awarded to the nation’s top defensive back in college football. So it comes as no surprise he’s on this season’s Bednarik Award watch list.
It probably won’t be the only watch list Fitzpatrick is on, but this is the first watch list he appears on. After returning two interceptions for touchdowns in 2016, Fitzpatrick returns in 2017 as one of the top cornerbacks in college football.
The Crimson Tide offense is also in a good place with quarterback Jalen Hurts leading the way. He became the first freshman quarterback to start under head coach Nick Saban. With a new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, Alabama could run the tables in the SEC again.
Fitzpatrick was a consensus All-American, first-team All-SEC selection after leading the SEC in interceptions and interception return yards (186). He was also third in the FBS in interception return yards.
Alabama returns only five starters on defense but with a ton of talent waiting in the wings, having Fitzpatrick elevates the secondary in any case. He recorded 66 tackles (42 solo, 24 assisted), seven pass breakups, six interceptions, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
1. Safety Derwin James, Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles were probably the best three-loss team in college football last season. They could have been a lot better with their best defender, safety Derwin James.
James could very well be the Bednarik Award winner by season’s end in his return to the field in 2017. He was off to a fast start in 2016 before going down with a meniscus tear in his left knee.
He finished the team’s season opener against the No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week after recording a team-high eight tackles and his first career interception.
In 2015, James was a third-team All-ACC selection and a Freshman All-American by many publications. As a freshman, he recorded 91 tackles (52 solo, 39 assisted), 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
With nine starters returning on defense, James leads a talented group of Seminoles into 2017 looking to turn a corner. He’s also got cornerback Tarvarus McFadden to rely upon on. McFadden led the FBS, ACC and the team in interceptions last season with eight.
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This spot very well could be McFadden’s, but it’s hard to ignore James’ presence on the field. He’s got a nose for the football and looks ready to return to the football field and do damage.