GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior linebacker Jarrad Davis, redshirt senior defensive back Marcus Maye and junior defensive back Jalen Tabor have been named to the 2016 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday.
The Bednarik Award, awarded annually to the best collegiate defensive player of the year, is highlighted by Iowa senior defensive back Desmond King. King was last season’s Jim Thorpe Award winner, which recognizes the top defensive back in college football.
In 2015, Davis was named to Gridiron’s Now All-SEC second team. He appeared in 14 games and starting 12, totaling the second-most tackles on the team with 98. Davis’ 11 tackles for loss also ranked third for Florida.
Maye garnered first-team All-America honors from USA Today and Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. In his 13 game appearances and 12 starts, Maye forced five fumbles, good for second-most in the country, and recovered two. His 82 tackles ranked fourth-most of the Gators.
Tabor was tabbed second-team All-American by Sporting News and first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Athlon, Pro Football Focus and Gridiron Now. He became the first Gator since Brandon Spikes in 2009 to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single season, and his four total interceptions tied for second of all SEC players. Tabor appeared in 13 games, nine of which were starts.
The watch list was compiled by the Maxwell Football Club's national selection committee and is based on past performance.
The Bednarik Award, awarded annually to the best collegiate defensive player of the year, is highlighted by Iowa senior defensive back Desmond King. King was last season’s Jim Thorpe Award winner, which recognizes the top defensive back in college football.
In 2015, Davis was named to Gridiron’s Now All-SEC second team. He appeared in 14 games and starting 12, totaling the second-most tackles on the team with 98. Davis’ 11 tackles for loss also ranked third for Florida.
Maye garnered first-team All-America honors from USA Today and Pro Football Focus and honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. In his 13 game appearances and 12 starts, Maye forced five fumbles, good for second-most in the country, and recovered two. His 82 tackles ranked fourth-most of the Gators.
Tabor was tabbed second-team All-American by Sporting News and first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, the Associated Press, ESPN.com, Athlon, Pro Football Focus and Gridiron Now. He became the first Gator since Brandon Spikes in 2009 to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single season, and his four total interceptions tied for second of all SEC players. Tabor appeared in 13 games, nine of which were starts.
The watch list was compiled by the Maxwell Football Club's national selection committee and is based on past performance.
