Bednarik Award Watch List Includes @IlliniFootball's Smoot
July 5, 2016 | Football
Dawuane Smoot, DE, Bednarik Award Watch List
The Bednarik Award
The Maxwell Football Club presents the Bednarik Award to the top defensive player in college football. The award is presented in honor of Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik. Voters for the Maxwell College Awards are NCAA Head College Football Coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club and sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.
» Full Watch List
» Last three winners: Tyler Matakevich (Temple), Scooby Wright III (Arizona), Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
Dawuane Smoot
• Senior defensive lineman from Groveport, Ohio (Groveport Madison HS)
• Ranked as the No. 20 player in college football by Pro Football Focus
• All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2015
• Started all 12 games on the defensive line in 2015
• 40 tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, two PBUs, three QB hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2015
• Led the team in TFLs (15.0) and sacks (8.0) in 2015
• Most TFLs in a single season by an Illini since All-American Whitney Mercilus had 22.5 in 2011
• Majoring in sport management
| SMOOT - CAREER STATS | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yr | G | Solo | Assisted | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | PD | FF | FR | BLK |
| 2013 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 33 | 7.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 12 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 15.0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 42 | 39 | 81 | 23.5 | 11.5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Big things coming for @BigSmoot_91. He's on the Bednarik (best def. player) watch list ?? » https://t.co/YpWHyscMTt pic.twitter.com/zePBGpi4yK
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 5, 2016
