Baylor's Siaki Ika Named to Bednarik Watch List

Bears junior marked as one of college football's best defensive players

Baylor Bears junior defensive tackle Siaki Ika was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List Monday, an award given annually since 1995 to the best defensive player in college football.

Ika has been reeling in the preseason honors, not only making the preseason All-Big 12 and All-American lists but also the watch lists for the Nagurski Award and the Outland Trophy.

The LSU transfer took the conference by storm in 2021. In his first year with the Bears, Ika earned First Team All-Big 12 honors and the conference's Newcomer of the Year.

In 2021, Ika attracted all kinds of attention from the opponent's offensive line, but still made a living in their backfield. He wracked up 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in his sophomore season. He was also crucial to the Bears' unprecedented success as one of the anchors of Dave Aranda's defense, setting new career highs for tackles in the Big 12 championship game and then once again against Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

Aranda first noticed Ika when the nose tackle was the number one recruit in the state of Utah. When Ika joined Aranda at LSU, they teamed up for a national championship in 2019, although Ika did not play. After entering the transfer portal midway through the 2020 season, he teamed up with Aranda once again by coming to Baylor.

The Bednarik Award finalists will be named November 22, with the winner being announced at the College Football Awards December 8.

Ika is one of 90 players on the watch list, including 10 from the Big 12.

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