Wilson tabbed semifinalist for Chuck Bednarik Award

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior outside linebacker Tyree Wilson has been named a semifinalist for the 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Tuesday. The organization annually presents the award to the college defensive player of the year.

The Red Raiders' defensive leader is one of 20 candidates for the prestigious award and one of two from the Big 12 Conference, joining Kansas State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah. He was previously one of 90 players tabbed to the preseason watch list on Aug. 1.

After eight games, Wilson is pacing Texas Tech with 11.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. His 11.5 tackles for loss are not only a Big 12 best but is the most by a Red Raider defensive lineman or edge player through eight games since 2000. It ranks as the second-highest total for any player during that span. That mark ranks tied for 16th in the FBS this season, while his 1.44 TFLs per game also lead the Big 12 and rank tied for 12th-best in the FBS.

Wilson's 6.5 sacks, meanwhile, rank tied for 16th in the FBS, while his sacks per game rate (0.81) is tied for 18th-best in the FBS. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), a partner of the Maxwell Football Club, Wilson leads all Power 5 players with 41 total pressures this season.

Not only is Wilson causing havoc behind the line of scrimmage but he's also become a force in finding ball this season as he ranks second on the team with 51 tackles, only trailing Tech MIKE linebacker Krishon Merriweather (67). He has already easily surpassed his total from his 2021 junior campaign (38) as Wilson has recorded at least 10 stops in two different games this season, the most for any Big 12 defensive line or edge player.

Semifinalist voting for the Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, will begin on Nov. 2 and will close on Nov. 20. Three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 22 and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time.

Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school with the player's school, position and class designated.

The winners of the 86th Maxwell Award and the 28th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 8. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 86th Maxwell Awards Gala, which will be held in March 2023.

Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists
LB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (Jr.)
LB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama (So.)
LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas (Jr.)
LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati (Sr.)
DT Tyler Davis, Clemson (Sr.)
S Christopher Smith, Georgia (Sr.)
DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois (So.)
CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois (Jr.)
LB Jack Campbell, Iowa (Sr.)
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (Jr.)
DE Mike Morris, Michigan (Sr.)
CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State (Jr.)
LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State (Sr.)
LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (So.)
CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State (R-Jr.)
DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt (R-Jr.)
LB Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech (Sr.)
DT Tuli Tuipulotu, USC (Jr.)
CB Clark Phillips III, Utah (So.)
S John Torchio, Wisconsin (Sr.)

ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed statistical and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts have been added to the selection committee and have participated in the process. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete football reference in the country.

The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, Montage Mountain Resort, Ivy Rehab, The Buccini Pollin Group, the Edward T. Coombs Foundation and the Run Around Inc. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS
PFF is widely recognized as the industry leader in the advanced data collection and analysis for American football. Since 2011, PFF has led football's charge into the world of analytics. Their services are trusted by all 32 NFL teams and over 100 FBS programs. Major broadcast networks, national media outlets and player agencies all use PFF as a resource as well. PFF's media network provides fans with apps, tools, podcasts and other content to help satisfy their thirst for deeper insights in the game.

The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.

Wilson tabbed semifinalist for Chuck Bednarik Award

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