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MSU\u2019s Simmons and Sweat Named Bednarik Award Semifinalists
\nMississippi State\u2019s Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat, the best defensive line duo in America, were both named semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award on Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.<\/p>\n
The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the college defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club. The field of contenders is comprised of 20 candidates, featuring a representative from every Power 5 conference. Simmons is one of two returners from last year\u2019s semifinal list. MSU is one of just five schools with multiple semifinalists, joining Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Washington.<\/p>\n
College football\u2019s most feared pass rusher, Sweat is tied for second in the Southeastern Conference and seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 8.5 sacks through eight games this season. He has also racked up 11 tackles for loss, which is the third-most in the SEC. No player in the Power 5 has tallied more sacks since the start of the 2017 season than Sweat, who has 19 in his 21 career games played in that span. Sweat, who led the SEC in sacks with 10.5 in 2017, is looking to become the second player since at least 2002 to lead the league in sacks back-to-back years.<\/p>\n
A dominant interior force, Simmons leads all SEC defensive linemen with 39 tackles this season and ranks tied for fourth in the conference with 9.5 tackles for loss. Simmons has recorded 18 stops and 16 total pressures, including 12 hurries. In the 21 games played together, the pair of first-round NFL prospects have combined for 48 tackles for loss (28 vs. SEC). Sweat has 26.5, while Simmons has 21.5 (Simmons has 25.0 in his career). The tandem has also combined for 24 sacks (16.5 vs. SEC) as Sweat has 19 and Simmons has five.<\/p>\n
Frank Coyle lists\u00a0 12 of the 20 junior and senior defenders on his Big Board for the NFL Draft 2019.<\/p>\n
Semifinalist voting for the award will\u00a0 close on Nov. 18. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 19 and a second 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.<\/p>\n
The winner will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show presented by Gildan which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 6. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club’s Awards Dinner on Friday, March 8, 2019 at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.<\/p>\n
DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
\nS Deionte Thompson, Alabama
\nDE Zach Allen, Boston College
\nDE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
\nDT Christian Wilkins, Clemson
\nDE Jachai Polite, Florida
\nDE Brian Burns, Florida State
\nCB Deandre Baker, Georgia
\nDT Ed Oliver, Houston
\nLB Josh Allen, Kentucky
\nDE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
\nS Grant Delpit, LSU
\nLB Devin White, LSU
\nDE Chase Winovich, Michigan
\nDE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
\nNG Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
\nNG Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
\nDT Dre\u2019Mont Jones, Ohio State
\nCB Byron Murphy, Washington
\nLB Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington<\/p>\n
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