PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Texas A&M football's DeMarvin Leal was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watchlist, announced Monday by Maxwell Football Club.
Â
Leal, a junior defensive lineman from San Antonio, Texas, is widely regarded as one of the country's most disruptive defenders heading into the 2021 season. The junior led A&M's defense in 2020 with eight quarterback hurries and ranked fifth on the team with 37 tackles. The athletic defender made several game-changing plays last year, including fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter that set up A&M's game-winning drive to defeat then-No. 4 Florida.
Â
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
Â
The Bednarik Award watch list is comprised of 90 candidates on the defensive side of the ball.
Â
The winner of the 2021 Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 9, 2021.
Â
Leal, a junior defensive lineman from San Antonio, Texas, is widely regarded as one of the country's most disruptive defenders heading into the 2021 season. The junior led A&M's defense in 2020 with eight quarterback hurries and ranked fifth on the team with 37 tackles. The athletic defender made several game-changing plays last year, including fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter that set up A&M's game-winning drive to defeat then-No. 4 Florida.
Â
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
Â
The Bednarik Award watch list is comprised of 90 candidates on the defensive side of the ball.
Â
The winner of the 2021 Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 9, 2021.