Longhorns LB Jaylan Ford Named To Bednarik Award Watch List
Jaylan Ford is primed for another breakout season, and the award committees are putting him at the forefront of every conversation.
Ford was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
The honor marks the fourth national award watch list Ford has been named to prior to the start of the regular season. The Texas linebacker from Frisco (Texas) was also named to the Lott IMPACT Award, Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award preseason watch lists earlier this month.
Last season, Ford became a staple for the No. 11 Longhorns, starting in all 13 games. Consistently forcing his way into the chest of ball carriers and receivers, the 6-3 standout led the team in tackles (119) and interceptions (4) while finishing second in tackles for loss (10) and sixth in sacks (2.0).
Ford's four-interception season tied the single-season interception record for a Texas linebacker set by Derrick Johnson in 2002 and 2003. He was named an AP All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection for his efforts.
Texas, the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 for the first time since 2009, has high hopes to end their time in the conference on the right note. Ford, named preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, plans to finish his time on the Forty Acres with a trip to Arlington in December.
All individual accolades are second among his priorities entering the regular season.
"We have a lot of seniors on this team," Ford said at Big 12 Media Days at AT&T Stadium last month. "It'd be an amazing feeling for everyone, myself included, to go out and finish on a note like that."
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled on Nov. 28, 2023. The winners of the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
Texas opens the season at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Sept. 2 against Rice. The Longhorns then travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 2 for a potential top-10 showdown against No. 4 Alabama.
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