Bryant Added To Bednarik Award Watch List

Photo courtesy of Joshua McCoy / Ole Miss Athletics

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Ole Miss junior linebacker Serderius Bryant has been added to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday.

Bryant leads Ole Miss with 43 tackles in four games played this year. He tops all SEC players and ranks ninth nationally with 10.8 tackles per game, while he ranks ninth in the SEC with 1.25 tackles for loss per outing.

The Sanford, Fla., native has led the Rebels in tackles in three of his four games, including a 15-tackle effort against Southeast Missouri that rates as the second-most in a game by an SEC player this year.

Bryant is one of nine players added to the watch list for the 19th Chuck Bednarik Award, which is awarded annually to the college defensive player of the year.

The original preseason list was comprised of players who were selected based on their performances during the 2012 season. As the 2013 season has progressed, the Maxwell Club believes that several additional players warrant attention because of their noteworthy play.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Oct. 29, and three finalists will be announced Nov. 25. The winner of the 2013 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be held on Dec. 12. The formal presentation will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City on March 7, 2014.

The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s Selection Committee, and the Maxwell Club reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to these lists as the 2013 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA Sports Information Directors, Head Coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for these awards.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik. Mr. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame 69’ and the NFL Hall of Fame 67’.

Ole Miss Rebels on 2013 award watch lists:

Serderius Bryant – Chuck Bednarik Award (nation’s best defensive player)

Hugh Freeze – Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year

Donte Moncrief – Biletnikoff Award (nation’s best receiver) 
Denzel Nkemdiche – Lombardi Award (nation’s best lineman or linebacker)
Denzel Nkemdiche – Nagurski Trophy (nation’s best defensive player)
Jeff Scott – Paul Hornung Award (nation’s most versatile player)

D.T. Shackelford – Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker)
D.T. Shackelford – Lott IMPACT Trophy (nation’s best defensive IMPACT player)
Evan Swindall – Rimington Trophy (nation’s best center)
Bo Wallace – Maxwell Award (nation’s best player)
Bo Wallace – Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s best quarterback)

Bo Wallace – Manning Award (nation’s best quarterback)

— Ole Miss Sports Information