The 2022 Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List was released today. With 90 players making the list it has the highest number of players on a watch list for on-field performance. Unanimous 2021 All-American Will Anderson Jr. headlines the group and despite being the front runner Anderson will have to match his 2021 output to even have a shot at it with a talent pool this deep! Noah Sewell is likely to be the first man on Anderson’s heels but there are so many more to have a look at.
TEN MOST RECENT WINNERS
2012 – Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2013 – Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
2014 – Scooby Wright III, Arizona
2015 – Tyler Matakevich, Temple
2016 – Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2017 – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Chase Young, Ohio State
2020 – Zaven Collins, Tulsa
2021 – Jordan Davis, Georgia
MY PAST TEN WINNERS
The past ten winners I would have chosen for this award after the bowl games (a flaw of college football) and thus taken the entire season into account. I also account for how their overall performance effected their team in a season.
2012 – Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2013 – Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
2014 – Joey Bosa, Ohio State
2015 – Joey Bosa, Ohio State
2016 – Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2017 – Roquan Smith, Georgia
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Chase Young, Ohio State
2020 – Zaven Collins, Tulsa
2021 – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
MY TOP TEN FOR 2022
- Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- Noah Sewell, Oregon
- Zach Harrison, Ohio State
- Clark Phillips, Utah
- Payton Wilgar, BYU
- Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
- Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
- Joey Porter, Penn State
- Henry To’oto’o, Alabama
- Steven Jones Jr., App State