Bednarik Award reveals 18 semifinalists after Week 9 action

On Monday, 18 defenders made the semifinalist list for the 27th Chuck Bednarik Award. The award is presented for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club.

Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins won the Bednarik Award in 2020. He beat out Patrick Surtain II from Alabama and Jeremiah Oswusu-Koramoah of Notre Dame. The Arizona Cardinals drafted Collins at No. 16 in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Several nominees are also on the semifinalist list for the Butkus Award, presented to the top linebacker, or Thorpe Award, presented to the top defensive back.

The Maxwell Football Club also released the 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, presented to the best overall player. Fourteen of the 15 semifinalists play either quarterback or running back this year.

Included below is a list of the Bednarik Award semifinalists, revealed Monday, in no particular order. An asterisk denotes that a player also made the semifinalist list in 2020.

2021 Bednarik Award semifinalists

Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State

Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming

DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M

Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State

Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State

Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

Kayvon Thibodeaux, OLB, Oregon

Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina

*Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin

Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma

Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

Will Anderson, OLB, Alabama

Georgia is the only program that features multiple players on the Bednarik Award semifinalist list. The Bulldogs do not however have a Maxwell Award semifinalist on the offensive side. The SEC has six players nominated, leading all other conferences.