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Texas Tech Flexes Defense With Lead on Bednarik Award List
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- Texas Tech Flexes Defense With Lead on Bednarik Award List
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LUBBOCK - Texas Tech marches on toward a much-anticipated season in Lubbock, and the hype around the Red Raiders is only continuing to grow.
One of the latest awards in college football to give an early glimpse into its potential winners was the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is bestowed on the nation's most spectacular defensive star.
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Eight programs led the FBS ranks with three selections to the watch list, with Texas Tech slotting into this exclusive group.
Texas Tech was joined by BYU from the Big 12 and the pair was listed among the likes of titans in Alabama , Georgia, Indiana, LSU , Notre Dame and Oklahoma .
Those chosen to represent the Red Raiders were tackle A.J. Holmes Jr. , corner Brice Pollock and linebacker Ben Roberts .
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The trio has been making headlines all offseason long, as each member has been consistently named to various watch lists and taken home early accolades from the Big 12 and beyond.
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Holmes was previously named as the conference's preseason Defensive Player of the Year and been honored by nearly every award that he is eligible for this season.
Much of the same can be said for Pollock and Roberts, with both landing on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team and being staples of essentially every early release for honors across the sport.
All three have also shared a previous honor for nearly the same reason after landing on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list earlier this offseason. That title goes to the top defensive standout, as well.
Although it did not factor into their nods, the choices of Holmes, Pollock and Roberts also highlight a harsh reality, at least for opponents, about this latest Red Raider defense.
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There are threats at every level, as Holmes leads the charge up front, Roberts looks to anchor the lethal linebacker corps and Pollock is a nightmare matchup down the field in the secondary.
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Recent history is also on the side of the Red Raiders in their fight for the prestigious title, with Texas Tech currently laying claim to the trophy after bringing it home for the first time last season.
That historic victory was due to the heroics of legendary linebacker Jacob Rodriguez , who seemingly opened the eyes of those around the nation to the level of talent that now resides in Lubbock.
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With the precedent already set and a new identity firmly planted by the Red Raiders, this latest trio has a serious chance to extend Texas Tech's hold on the trophy and prove that last year was no fluke.
