Our parade of college football awards preseason watch lists continued on Friday when the Chuck Bednarik Award unveiled the names on its list. As with most other preseason watch lists, there was a little Ohio State flair to it because two Buckeye defenders were included: defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and safety Earl Little Jr.
It's the third preseason watch list for Jackson, who also appeared on the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Nagurski watch lists, and the second one for Little, who was also a part of the Thorpe watch list to begin the year. The Bednarik is administered by the Maxwell Football Club and honors the college football defensive player of the year annually.
Jackson got better and better throughout the season and looked almost unblockable at times (barring uncalled holding calls). He finished the season with 28 tackles, with 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He should be poised for a big year and should be a force coming off the edge for Matt Patricia's defense.
Little joined Ohio State after playing two seasons at Florida State and two seasons at Alabama . He was a captain for the Seminoles last season and led the team with 76 tackles. He also had four interceptions for 83 yards, two forced fumbles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups in 12 games, starting in 11. Much is expected of him on a defense that lost heart and soul in Caleb Downs , in the same type of role.
Ohio State has had just one Bednarik Award winner since its inception in 1995. Chase Young was honored at the end of the amazing 2019 season, in which he racked up a slew of postseason defensive awards and even went to New York as a Heisman Finalist. That's it.
Like many of the college postseason awards, the Bednarik Award winner will be announced on December 11 during ESPN's Home Depot College Awards Show.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Two Ohio State players on the Chuck Bednarik preseason watch list
