UVA defensive end Eli Harold and strong safety Anthony Harris were both named to the preseason Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (class of 1969) and the NFL Hall of Fame (class of 1967)
Harold (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va.) is a preseason All-ACC honoree by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. CFPA listed Harold on its preseason 40-man watch list for its defensive lineman of the year. Harold had 8.5 sacks in 2013, the fourth-most by an underclassman in the nation. He also racked up 15.0 tackles for a loss, which ranked No. 7 all-time at UVa for a season.
Harris (Sr., Chesterfield, Va.) is a preseason All-American after winning All-America honors in 2013 from Sports Illustrated (first) and Walter Camp (second). Harris led the nation with eight interceptions and set a UVa record with at least one interception in five straight games. CFPA listed Harris on its preseason 42-man watch list for its defensive back of the year.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 3, 2014, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 24, 2014. The winner of the 2014 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11, 2014. The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Revel Casino Hotel Atlantic City on March 6, 2015.
The Chuck Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 699 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more.
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