Three Penn State football players were named Monday to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant and A.J. Harris were among the 90 players selected to the Bednarik watch list.
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Dennis-Sutton will begin his second season as a starting defensive end with 85 tackles in his career, 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and five pass breakups.
He received All-Big Ten honorable mention last season after he was voted to the all-conference third team in 2023.
Durant will enter his third season as a starter at defensive tackle with 64 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
He was earlier named to the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, also presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player, and for the Outland Trophy, presented to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.
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Durant was named to preseason All-America teams chosen by the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He received All-Big Ten honorable mention the last two seasons.
Harris will begin his second season as a starting cornerback after making 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups last season, his first at Penn State.
He was earlier named to the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy. He was voted to the All-Big Ten third team last season.
The Bednarik Award semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 11, and the three finalists on Nov. 25. The winner will be announced during ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11.
