Fansided

Preseason Bednarik Award watch list is here for its closeup

By Jonathan Bass

Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears defensive end Shawn Oakman (2) during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears defensive end Shawn Oakman (2) during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Complete preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award.

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There are two lines of thought when it comes to preseason award watch lists. One is that they give certain players a leg up, focus extensively on big-name teams and create an imbalanced field with biased voters. The other line is that there is never not a good time to read about college football. Count me in the latter camp.

Frank Sinatra once said, “I’m for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, benzedrine or a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.” That’s pretty much how I feel about college football: whatever gets you through the offseason. Spring practices, weird viral videos, pre-preseason watch lists before the preseason watch lists – it’s all fair game.

So if it’s a Bednarik Award watch list on the seventh day of July, then by golly that’s more than good enough.

The Bednarik’s preseason list has a markedly different look than of its companion, the Maxwell Award. Namely, there are only six underclassmen listed, with the rest being juniors and seniors. Of the super sophs, three that immediately stand out are USC’s Adoree’ Jackson, the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, and SEC sack brothers Myles Garrett and Derek Barnett (both broke the SEC freshman Sack record that previously belonged to Jadeveon Clowney).

Other names that jump off the list include Ohio State’s Joey “Big Bear” Bosa, Ole Miss stud Robert Nkemdiche, Arizona’s defensive motor Scooby Wright, FSU’s island Jalen Ramsey, UCLA’s Myles Jack, LSU’s Jalen Mills and Baylor’s resident Mountain, Shawn Oakman. It is a talented veteran crop of defenders this year.

Below is the complete list of players. Time to give thanks that we’re one more day closer to the season …

2015 bednarik award preseason watch list
Graphic via Maxwell Football Club /

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