They say defense wins championships. One thing the Chuck Bednarik Award does is shine a spotlight on the top defenders in all of college football. To kick off the year, 19 defenders from the Big Ten were on the Badnarik Award watchlist. Then, the lists were pared back to 20 semifinalists with five from the Big Ten. Now, three finalists have been announced and two come by way of the Big Ten.
This year’s finalists are Abdul Carter from Penn State, Caleb Downs from Ohio State, and Colorado’s Heisman-favorite, two-way player, Travis Hunter. The Maxwell Football Club will announce a winner for the 30th Bednarik Award on December 12 on ESPN.
Two of the Bednarik Award Finalists Come From The Big Ten
Abdul Carter, Penn State
It’s obvious that the move from linebacker to edge rusher has paid dividends for Carter and the Penn State defense. Carter was a superstar for the Nittany Lions last year but he’s kicked it up another notch for the likely College Football Playoff-bound Penn State team.
Through 11 games, Carter has terrorized offenses left and right. In total, he has amassed 48 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss and is third in the country. His eight sacks are tied for fourth in the conference.
Three Nittany Lions have won the award: LaVar Arrington in 1999, Paul Posluszny in 2005-06 and Dan Connor in 2007. Connor also was a finalist with Posluszny in 2006. Four other players have been finalists: Courtney Brown in 1999, Aaron Maybin in 2008, Devon Still in 2011, and Carl Nassib in 2015.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State
One of the top defenders in college football in 2023 was a true freshman. That freshman was Downs. Fast forward a year and Downs is leading Ohio State’s defense and is racking up honors left and right.
Despite not accounting for stats nearly as close as he did last year, Downs has been an integral part of the top-rated defense in college football. In 11 games Downs has 51 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, half of a sack, and three pass breakups. However, it’s his leadership off the stat sheet that is the difference. He is as sure of a tackler as any in football and singlehandedly made two touchdown-saving stops in the win over Nebraska.
Ohio State has been looking at ways of letting Downs show off his athleticism. Before the season, there were rumors that he could take snaps at running back. While those dreams have not come to fruition, he has been able to return punts. It likely shouldn’t go into consideration for the Bednarik Award, an award for the top defender, Downs had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Downs leads a defense that is first in points allowed, first in total offensive yards, third in rushing yards, and fourth in passing yards. He can be the second Ohio State defender to take home the award after Chase Young did so in 2019.
