UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior defensive end Abdul Carter and junior safety Kevin Winston Jr. were tabbed to the Bednarik Award Watch List on Monday.
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually, by the Maxwell Football Club, to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Abdul Carter · Jr. · DE · 6-3 · 259 · Philadelphia, Pa. · La Salle College High School
- Named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch Lists.
- Tabbed to Walter Camp Award Preseason All-America Team.
- Garnered first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and second-team from the media.
- Tabbed second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated.
- Earned Penn State’s Keystone Award winner on defense, sharing the honor with Kevin Winston Jr.
- Was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media and third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2022.
- Made switch from linebacker to defensive end following 2023 season.
- Has tallied 104 tackles (61 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and nine pass breakups entering his third season in Happy Valley.
- Notched 48 tackles (25 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, five pass breakups and five QB hurries in 2023.
- According to Pro Football Focus, his 24.1 pass rush win percentage ranked third in the FBS among players with at least 100 pass rush snaps last season.
- Started the 2023 campaign with a solo sack in the fourth quarter against West Virginia.
- Recorded his first career interception against Illinois and posted a career-high nine tackles and a pass breakup at Ohio State.
- Secured a solo sack against Maryland and forced a fumble against Michigan.
- Tied a career high with two sacks at Michigan State.
Kevin Winston Jr. · Jr. · S · 6-2 · 205 · Columbia, Md. · DeMatha Catholic
- Has appeared in 25 career games, making 13 starts.
- Tabbed All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2023.
- Through his first two seasons in Happy Valley, tallied 77 tackles (45 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception and five pass breakups.
- Started all 13 games at safety last season, recording a team-high 60 tackles (35 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception and five pass breakups.
- According to Pro Football Focus, allowed a 50 completion percentage and forced four incompletions when targeted.
- Earned a 90.6 run defense grade, leading the Big Ten (all positions) and ranking third in the nation among safeties (minimum 200 run defense snaps).
- His 90.6 run defense grade was tied fifth in the nation among all players (minimum 200 run defense snaps).
- Had an 86.8 coverage grade, ranking fourth among Big Ten safeties and 11th among FBS safeties.
- Led PSU with 28 solo tackles in run defense.
- Made first career fumble recovery against Delaware.
- Posted a team-leading five tackles at Northwestern.
- Collected seven tackles at Ohio State.
- Recovered a muffed punt against Indiana.
- Tallied five tackles and a solo tackle for loss at Maryland.
- Set a career high with 12 tackles, and assisted on a tackle for loss, vs. Michigan.
- Recorded his first career interception vs. Rutgers and tallied two pass breakups and a tackle for loss at Michigan State.
- Secured 10 tackles (4 solo) and one pass breakup against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.
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 an All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12 and the three finalists for the award will be revealed on November 26.
The winner will be announced live during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN on December 12, 2024.
The formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Penn State Football Recognized On Preseason Watch Lists:
Drew Allar – Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award
Kaytron Allen – Doak Walker Award
Abdul Carter – Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
Dani Dennis-Sutton – Lott IMPACT Trophy
Tyler Duzansky – Mannelly Award
Chase Meyer – Lou Groza Award
Nicholas Singleton – Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
Riley Thompson – Ray Guy Award
Tyler Warren – Mackey Award
Kevin Winston Jr. – Bednarik Award
Sal Wormley – Outland Trophy
Penn State's season opener at West Virginia on Aug. 31 will kick at noon on FOX. The Nittany Lions return 42 lettermen from last year’s squad – 17 on offense, 22 on defense and three on special teams and bring back 16 starters – seven on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.
For club and ticket information for the 2024 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.