Santos-Knox named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Since 1995, the Bednarik Award has been awarded to the best defensive player in the nation. Last year, Scooby Wright won this award as a linebacker for the Arizona Wildcats. Of the many names on its watch list, UMass Minutemen Jovan Santos-Knox is the lone MAC name to be recognized after not having any MAC players on last year's Bednarik Award Watch List.

With expectations repeat as a First Team All-MAC performer again from national media outlets, Santos-Knox had a wowzing 143 total tackles (fifth in the nation) with 8.5 tackles for loss. Santos-Knox averaged 11.9 tackles per game, which was good for fourth in the nation in 2014. Against Akron, he recorded a career-high 19 tackles against Akron, one of four games with at least 15 tackles. Last year, he also had a pair of sacks (17 yards lost) with three forced fumbles (two against Ball State).

The winner of the Bednarik Award will be announced on December 10, 2015.