As we near the end of all college football preseason watch lists, we see that 19 ACC players are on the Bednarik Award list. The Bednarik Award is determined by a voting panel of the Maxwell Football Club. It is given annually to the best defensive player in the country. This is the 30th.th Year of the award.
The ACC nominees
Here are the ACC players on the watch list for 2024:
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, Sr., DE
Quincy Riley, Louisville, redshirt senior, CB
Rueben Bain, Jr., Miami, Sophomore, DE
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami, Sr., LB
Power Echols, North Carolina, senior, LB
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, PhD student, Edge
Davin Vann, NC State, senior, DE
Donovan McMillon, Pitt, Sr., S
Elijah Roberts, SMU, PhD student, DE
Marlowe Wax, Syracuse, Sr., LB
Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Senior, S
Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, PhD student, DT
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech, redshirt senior DE
Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest, Sr., DE
The price
Gillotte of Louisville was a 2023 semifinalist. Last year’s winner came from an ACC school, NC State linebacker Payton Wilson, Jr. Georgia, Iowa, Miami, Michigan and Ohio State lead with three candidates each.
The award is named after Chuck Bednarik, a three-time All-American linebacker from Penn. He also played center on offense and handled punting duties from time to time. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
The coming year
The Bednarik Award committee uses analysis and ratings from Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele and his College Football Preview magazine. Players may be added to the watch list during the season if their on-field performance warrants it.
The semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12. The three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced on November 26. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot Awards on December 12.th.
The full Bednarik Watchlist for 2024 can be found here.
