UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, senior defensive tackle Zane Durant and junior cornerback A.J. Harris were named 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.
Dani Dennis-Sutton · Sr. · DE · 6-5 · 265 · Millsboro, Del. · McDonogh School (Md.)
- Tabbed All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media in 2024 and All-Big Ten third team by the coaches and media in 2023.
- Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2023 and 2024.
- Has appeared in 42 games and made 17 starts at defensive end.
- In his Penn State career, owns 85 tackles (52 solo), 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and five pass breakups.
- Posted 42 tackles (24 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and three pass breakups in 2024.
- Tied for fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (13) and tied for sixth in sacks (8.5).
Zane Durant · Sr. · DT · 6-1 · 294 · Lake Nona, Fla. · Lake Nona
- Tabbed to Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists.
- Named Preseason All-America by The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.
- Has appeared in 42 career games, making 28 starts.
- Voted All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2023 and 2024.
- Has tallied 64 tackles (35 solo), 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
- He has three career games with multiple tackles for loss.
- In 2024, Durant collected 42 tackles (22 solo), 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and a pass breakup.
- He ranked fourth among FBS defensive tackles (2nd in Big Ten) with 11 tackles for loss and tied for first among Big Ten defensive tackles with three sacks.
- Named the Coaching Staff’s Defensive Player of the Game three times (Bowling Green - 9/7; Illinois - 9/28; Minnesota - 11/23).
A.J. Harris · Jr. · CB · 6-1 · 191 · Phenix City, Ala. · Central
- Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists.
- Voted All-Big Ten third team by the coaches and media in 2024.
- Played in all 16 games and made 15 starts last season.
- Finished with 48 tackles (28 solo), four tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups in 2024.
- Assisted on three tackles and added a pass breakup at West Virginia (8/31).
- Grabbed his first career interception and returned it 20 yards, while adding four tackles and a pass breakup against Illinois (9/28).
- Tallied three tackles and a pass breakup vs. Washington (11/9).
- Posted five tackles and a tackle for loss at Minnesota (11/23).
- Made a career-high seven stops (5 solo) and a tackle for loss vs. Oregon (12/7).
- Recorded three tackles and a pass breakup vs. Notre Dame (1/9).
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 11 and the three finalists for the award will be revealed on November 25.
The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN on December 11, 2025.
The formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026 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, Walter Camp Award
Kaytron Allen – Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award
Cooper Cousins – Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Dani Dennis-Sutton – Bednarik Award
Khalil Dinkins – Mackey Award
Zane Durant – Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy
Tyler Duzansky – Mannelly Award
A.J. Harris – Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy
Olaivavega Ioane – Outland Trophy
Trebor Peña – Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award
Devonte Ross – Biletnikoff Award
Nicholas Singleton – Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award
Penn State Football Recognized On Preseason All-America Teams:
Zane Durant - The Sporting News, Walter Camp
Olaivavega Ioane - The Sporting News, Walter Camp
Nicholas Singleton - The Sporting News, Walter Camp
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2025 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.