As we near the end of all of the college football pre-season watch lists, we see that 19 ACC players are on the Bednarik Award list. The Bednarik Award is determined by a voting panel from the Maxwell Football Club. It goes annually to their choice for the best defensive player in the country. This will be the 30th year for the award.
The ACC Nominees
Here are the ACC players on the 2024 watch list:
Barrett Carter, Clemson, Senior, LB
Peter Woods, Clemson, Sophomore, DT
Tre Freeman, Duke, Redshirt Junior, LB
Joshua Farmer, Florida State, Redshirt Junior, DT
Patrick Payton, Florida State, Redshirt Junior, DE
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, Senior, DE
Quincy Riley, Louisville, Redshirt Senior, CB
Rueben Bain, Jr., Miami, Sophomore, DE
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami, Senior, LB
Power Echols, North Carolina, Senior, LB
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, Graduate Student, Edge
Davin Vann, NC State, Senior, DE
Donovan McMillon, Pitt, Senior, S
Elijah Roberts, SMU, Graduate Student, DE
Marlowe Wax, Syracuse, Senior, LB
Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Senior, S
Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, Graduate Student, DT
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech, Redshirt Senior DE
Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest, Senior, DE
The Award
Louisville’s Gillotte was a 2023 semifinalist. Last year’s winner was from an ACC school, NC State linebacker Payton Wilson, Jr. Georgia, Iowa, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State lead the way with 3 candidates each.
The award is named after Chuck Bednarik, a three-time All-American linebacker from Penn. He also played center on offense and from time to time handled the punting duties. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Year Ahead
The Bednarik Award committee uses analytics and assessment from Pro Football Focus and from Phil Steele and his College Football Preview magazine. Players can be added to the watch list during the season as their on-field performance warrants.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12. The three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled on November 26. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot Awards on December 12th.
The entire Bednarik watch list for 2024 can be seen here.
