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Virginia Football: Jackson on Watch List for Bednarik Award

The senior linebacker made the preseason watch list for defensive player of the year

Matt Newton

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics
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Add another preseason accolade to the shelf for Virginia linebacker Nick Jackson. On Monday, 90 of the best defensive players in the country were recognized on the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.

The Atlanta native led the ACC with 117 tackles last season and also recorded 6 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended as the leader of the UVA defense. He was also named Second-Team All-ACC in 2021.Β 

The Bednarik Award is named after Chuck Bednarik, an All-American linebacker at Penn and two-time NFL champion and Hall of Famer. The award has been presented to the best defensive player in college football every year since 1994.Β 

READ MORE:Β In-State Three-Star TyLyric Coleman Commits to Virginia Football

Semifinalists for the 2022 Bednarik Award will be revealed on November 1st and three finalists will be announced on November 22nd. The 28th Bednarik Award will be announced at the ESPN College Football Awards Show on December 8th and the award will be presented to the winner at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala on March 10th in Atlantic City.Β 

Nick Jackson is also on the preseason watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, presented annually to the best linebacker in college football.Β 

Five Cavaliers have been named to preseason watch lists for college football awards this summer: Nick Jackson (Bednarik Award and Butkus Award), Brennan Armstrong (Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award), Dontayvion Wicks (Maxwell Award and Biletnikoff Award), Keytaon Thompson (Biletnikoff Award), and Chayce Chalmers (AFCA Good Works Team and Wuerffel Trophy).Β 

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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