Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati defensive end Myjai Sanders (Jacksonville, Florida/Camden County) was named a semifinalist for the 26th Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday.
Sanders, rated by Pro Football Focus College as one of the top edge defenders in the NCAA FBS, has a team-best 5.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss, both marks which rank among the top seven defenders in the American Athletic Conference.
UC leads the American in rushing defense (112.5), scoring defense (15.0), pass efficiency defense (94.7) and total defense (308.1) while ranking second in pass defense (195.6). Cincinnati has allowed 13 TDs on defense this year, the top mark in the NCAA FBS among teams who have played eight or more games.
The Bearcats are off to an 8-0 (6-0 AAC) start and are ranked No. 7 in all three national polls.
The 18 candidates for the Bednarik Award were selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee. The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF), XOS ThunderCloud and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed statistical and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts have been added to the selection committee and have participated in the process. Phil Steele’s Football Guide is generally recognized as the most complete football reference in the country. XOS ThunderCloud provides the Maxwell Club selection committee with access to game footage from all FBS colleges.
Semifinalist voting will begin on Tuesday Dec.8 and will close on Dec. 20. Three finalists for will be announced on Dec 21st and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.
The winner of the 26th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be broadcast live on ESPN on January 7, 2021.
Sanders and the No. 7 Bearcats return to action this weekend, facing No. 18 Tulsa on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. ET inside Chapman Stadium. The game will air on ESPN2 and 700 WLW AM. UC has also qualified for the AAC Championship Game and will again match up with Tulsa on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The game on the Dec. 12 determines the league’s regular-season champion and the right to play host to the title game.
