Football | August 12, 2024
GO ANGELES—USC Defensive Tackle Bear Alexander was named to the 2024 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List today (August 12). The Chuck Bednarik Award is given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
As a junior, Alexander will once again be a force to be reckoned with in the trenches on the defensive line in 2024. He has also earned a spot on the candidate lists for the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy. In addition, he made the Phil Steele 2024 Preseason All-American Fourth Team, as well as the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team and the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team.
After transferring from Georgia in the summer of 2023, he made an immediate impact by bolstering the Trojans’ defensive line. Alexander recorded 48 tackles, including 6.5 for loss (with 1.5 sacks). He led the team with 4 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 PBU while appearing in all 13 games and starting 12 (all except California). He was named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team and received honorable mention in the All-Pac-12.
The Bednarik Award has been given to the college defensive player of the year since 1994 and is named after Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, who was an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania and later an All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles for several years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to play both offense and defense full-time.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as partners on the selection committee.
The semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced on November 26, 2024. The winners of the 30th The Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 12, 2024. The official presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be held at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
