Anders Named to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
August 01, 2022 | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University inside linebacker Darren Anders been named to the 2022 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, announced the Maxwell Club on Monday (Aug. 1). He is one of five players from the MAC on the list of 90 college football players. The Maxwell Club presents the award annually to the nation's best defensive player.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Anders (North Olmsted, Ohio), who has also been named on the Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists, was a 2021 first-team All-MAC linebacker, finishing last season No. 1 in the MAC and No. 8 in the nation with 10.3 tackles per game. Anders was one of three players in all of FBS over the last two seasons to rank in the top-15 nationally in tackles and is the only one who returns to CFB in 2022. He was also one of three FBS players in 2021 with 120+ tackles, 3.0+ sacks, 1+ fumbles recovered and 1+ interceptions (one of two through the regular season) and the only one returning to CFB in 2022. Anders has been named a preseason first-team All-MAC honoree by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Anders is the first Falcon since Austin Valdez in 2016 to be named to the Bednarik Watch List. CJ Brown (NIU), Jamal Hines (Toledo), James Patterson (Buffalo) and Jose Ramirez (Eastern Michigan) are the other MAC players that join Anders on the preseason watch list.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 1, 2022, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled Nov. 22, 2022. The winners of the 28th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 8, 2022. The formal presentation of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards live from Atlantic City, N.J. on March 10, 2023.
Bowling Green, who returns 50 letterwinners and 18 starters, opens the 2022 season against UCLA on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on the Pac-12 Network.
Fans can secure single-game or season tickets by visiting BGSUFalcons.com/tickets, or by calling the BGSU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-(877) 247-8842.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Anders (North Olmsted, Ohio), who has also been named on the Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists, was a 2021 first-team All-MAC linebacker, finishing last season No. 1 in the MAC and No. 8 in the nation with 10.3 tackles per game. Anders was one of three players in all of FBS over the last two seasons to rank in the top-15 nationally in tackles and is the only one who returns to CFB in 2022. He was also one of three FBS players in 2021 with 120+ tackles, 3.0+ sacks, 1+ fumbles recovered and 1+ interceptions (one of two through the regular season) and the only one returning to CFB in 2022. Anders has been named a preseason first-team All-MAC honoree by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Anders is the first Falcon since Austin Valdez in 2016 to be named to the Bednarik Watch List. CJ Brown (NIU), Jamal Hines (Toledo), James Patterson (Buffalo) and Jose Ramirez (Eastern Michigan) are the other MAC players that join Anders on the preseason watch list.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 1, 2022, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled Nov. 22, 2022. The winners of the 28th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 8, 2022. The formal presentation of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards live from Atlantic City, N.J. on March 10, 2023.
Bowling Green, who returns 50 letterwinners and 18 starters, opens the 2022 season against UCLA on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on the Pac-12 Network.
Fans can secure single-game or season tickets by visiting BGSUFalcons.com/tickets, or by calling the BGSU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-(877) 247-8842.
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