Cooper DeJean named candidate for Bednarik Award
The preseason award honors continue to roll in for Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. This time he has been named as a candidate for the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club.
Semifinalist for the award will be announced on November 13th.
Iowa has had eight players reach the semifinals for the Bednarik Award. Those players include Chad Greenway in 2005, Pat Angerer in 2009, Adrian Clayborn in 2010, Desmond King in 2016, Josey Jewell in 2017, Josh Jackson in 2017, Daviyon Nixon in 2020, and Jack Campbell last season.
DeJean (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and second team by the coaches in 2022 after finishing with 75 tackles, five interceptions and eight pass breakups. He set Iowa’s single season record with three pick 6’s in 2022. He also averaged a team-best 16.5 yards on 10 punt returns a year ago.
Earlier this month, DeJean was named to the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year), Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back), and Paul Hornung Award (versatility) watch lists. He is recognized on the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele 2023 preseason All-America second teams, as well as being voted to the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors List and first-team All-Big Ten accolades by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus.
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The Odebolt, Iowa, native was voted the 2022 Music City Bowl Most Valuable Player after notching seven tackles (six solo), including one for loss, and notching a 14-yard pick-6 against Kentucky. DeJean was named the Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Week versus Wisconsin (Nov. 12, 2022) after totaling 10 tackles (seven solo), including one for loss, and returning an interception 32 yards for a score. He was the recipient of Iowa’s Reggie Roby Special Teams Award (overall) and Team Hustle Award (defense) last season.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
