The Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player, has released its preseason watch list complete with 11 Big 12 players up for the award. Here's the list, in alphabetical order:
A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
Demontre Hurst, CB, Oklahoma
Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
Brodrick Brown, CB, Oklahoma State
Stansly Maponga, DE, TCU
Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
That's a pretty good list. The biggest snubs in my book are all cornerbacks. Where is Texas' duo of Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs? And what about Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert. All deserving.
Last season, Tyrann Mathieu became the second consecutive LSU player to win the award, following up Patrick Peterson in 2010.
Ndamukong Suh (2009) was the last Big 12 player to win the award. Teddy Lehman of Oklahoma (2003) was the last player among current Big 12 teams to take home the trophy.