TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (Detroit, Michigan/Martin Luther King) and defensive end Myjai Sanders (Jacksonville, Fla./Camden County) were both named to the initial watch list for the Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
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.
The initial watch list carries 90 candidates and Sanders is one of two returning 2020 semifinalists, along with Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton. UC is one of 11 schools to place two candidates on the watch list.
View the complete Bednarik Award Watch List online.
Both Bearcats have garnered preseason All-America plaudits with Gardner earning first-team nods from Athlon, Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News and Walter Camp while Sanders has second-team honors from Athlon and Walter Camp and third-team awards from Phil Steele and PFF.
Sanders and Gardner were standout members of an elite defense which ranked in the NCAA's Top-15 in five categories, including tied for No. 3 in both interceptions (16) and No. 3 in team passing efficiency defense (101.26). The Bearcats have forced a turnover in 20-straight games, the longest active streak in the NCAA FBS, totaling AAC highs with 55 passes defended and 16 interceptions.
Gardner earned recognition on five All-America teams following the 2020 campaign, including first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today along with second-team accolades from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and the Athletic. The First-Team All-AAC selection tied for second in the AAC's with nine passes defended and tied for fourth with three interceptions in the regular season. In nine starts, he added 28 tackles and shared a sack. According to ProFootballFocus.com, Gardner allowed the third-lowest passer rating in the FBS in coverage in 2020, making more plays on the ball than first downs allowed.
Sanders was one of the anchors for a front seven which led the American in rushing, scoring, pass efficiency and total defense. A semifinalist for the 2020 Bednarik Award, he was rated by Pro Football Focus College as one of the top edge defenders in the NCAA FBS. Sanders had a team-best 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.0 sacks in 2020 where he earned First-Team All-AAC honors. Both his marks ranked him among the Top-10 defenders in the AAC.
Cincinnati opens the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4, against Miami (OH) in the 125th Battle for the Victory Bell at 3:30 p.m. ET inside Nippert Stadium.
Visit the football tickets page to reserve your season tickets now!
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati finished 9-1 in 2020, winning the American Athletic Conference Championship and playing in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a New Year's Six Bowl. The Bearcats return 16 starters from last season's squad, including Ridder and seven-time All-America selection Ahmad Gardner along with All-AAC selections Darrian Beavers, Marcus Brown, Coby Bryant, Myjai Sanders, Tre Tucker, Josh Whyle and Michael Young Jr. The 2021 roster projects to have nearly 40 local players who grew up and played high-school football in the tri-state area.
BUY TICKETS NOW • SUBSCRIBE TO ESPN+
FILL-IT-UP FRIDAYS
New season ticket holders who make their purchases on a Friday between 9 a.m. and noon ET will be entered in a drawing to win various Bearcats prizes. Fans should follow @GoBEARCATS on social media and tune in each Thursday this summer for weekly prize announcements.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
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.
The initial watch list carries 90 candidates and Sanders is one of two returning 2020 semifinalists, along with Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton. UC is one of 11 schools to place two candidates on the watch list.
View the complete Bednarik Award Watch List online.
Both Bearcats have garnered preseason All-America plaudits with Gardner earning first-team nods from Athlon, Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News and Walter Camp while Sanders has second-team honors from Athlon and Walter Camp and third-team awards from Phil Steele and PFF.
Sanders and Gardner were standout members of an elite defense which ranked in the NCAA's Top-15 in five categories, including tied for No. 3 in both interceptions (16) and No. 3 in team passing efficiency defense (101.26). The Bearcats have forced a turnover in 20-straight games, the longest active streak in the NCAA FBS, totaling AAC highs with 55 passes defended and 16 interceptions.
Gardner earned recognition on five All-America teams following the 2020 campaign, including first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today along with second-team accolades from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and the Athletic. The First-Team All-AAC selection tied for second in the AAC's with nine passes defended and tied for fourth with three interceptions in the regular season. In nine starts, he added 28 tackles and shared a sack. According to ProFootballFocus.com, Gardner allowed the third-lowest passer rating in the FBS in coverage in 2020, making more plays on the ball than first downs allowed.
Sanders was one of the anchors for a front seven which led the American in rushing, scoring, pass efficiency and total defense. A semifinalist for the 2020 Bednarik Award, he was rated by Pro Football Focus College as one of the top edge defenders in the NCAA FBS. Sanders had a team-best 10.5 tackles for a loss and 7.0 sacks in 2020 where he earned First-Team All-AAC honors. Both his marks ranked him among the Top-10 defenders in the AAC.
Cincinnati opens the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4, against Miami (OH) in the 125th Battle for the Victory Bell at 3:30 p.m. ET inside Nippert Stadium.
Visit the football tickets page to reserve your season tickets now!
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati finished 9-1 in 2020, winning the American Athletic Conference Championship and playing in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a New Year's Six Bowl. The Bearcats return 16 starters from last season's squad, including Ridder and seven-time All-America selection Ahmad Gardner along with All-AAC selections Darrian Beavers, Marcus Brown, Coby Bryant, Myjai Sanders, Tre Tucker, Josh Whyle and Michael Young Jr. The 2021 roster projects to have nearly 40 local players who grew up and played high-school football in the tri-state area.
BUY TICKETS NOW • SUBSCRIBE TO ESPN+
FILL-IT-UP FRIDAYS
New season ticket holders who make their purchases on a Friday between 9 a.m. and noon ET will be entered in a drawing to win various Bearcats prizes. Fans should follow @GoBEARCATS on social media and tune in each Thursday this summer for weekly prize announcements.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.