Laramie, Wyo. (Nov. 1, 2021) – The Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday its 2021 Semifinalists for the
27th Chuck Bednarik Award powered by Mammoth Tech. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football. Among the 18 defensive players in the nation named a semifinalist is University of Wyoming linebacker
Chad Muma.
Muma is one of only two Mountain West players named semifinalists for this year's Chuck Bednarik Award. San Diego State defensive end Cameron Thomas was also selected as a semifinalist.
2021 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Chad Muma Wyoming
Will Anderson Alabama
Roger McCreary Auburn
Ahmad Gardner Cincinnati
Jermaine Johnson Florida State
Jordan Davis Georgia
Nakobe Dean Georgia
Aidan Hutchinson Michigan
Kyle Hamilton Notre Dame
Nik Bonitto Oklahoma
Kayvon Thibodeaux Oregon
Jaquan Brisker Penn State
George Karlaftis Purdue
Cameron Thomas San Diego State
Kingsley Enagbare South Carolina
DeMarvin Leal Texas A&M
Devin Lloyd Utah
Leo Chenal Wisconsin
Muma is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation in solo tackles (6.5 per game) and ranked No. 10 in the nation in total tackles (9.8 per game). He is also tied for No. 1 in the nation in interceptions returned for touchdowns, with two Pick Sixes on the season. He has recorded double figures in tackles in seven of eight games this season.
Muma first made his mark as one of the nation's top linebackers in 2020. He ranked No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 3 in the nation in tackles, averaging 11.8 tackles per game. He also ranked No. 16 in the nation in solo tackles, averaging 5.5 per game. Muma was selected First Team All-Mountain West by MW head coaches and media in 2020.
Mammoth Tech and The Athletes' Corner are both Executive Partners of the Maxwell Football Club. The Maxwell Football Club has also once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF), XOS ThunderCloud and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
The winner of the 2021 Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 9, 2021.
The winners of the 85th Maxwell Award and the 27th 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 December 9, 2021. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 85th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held at Tropicana Atlantic City on Friday March 11, 2022.
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ABOUT THE ATHLETES' CORNER – The Athletes' Corner works with professional athletes and teams to strengthen families who are struggling mentally, physically, and spiritually - all through the vehicle of sports. Partnering with Feeding America®, they launched an initiative called 'The Athletes' Corner vs. Hunger', which has already provided 1.7 million meals to hungry families since November 1st, 2020.
ABOUT THE SELECTION COMMITTEE PARTNERS - PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine. XOS ThunderCloud provides the Maxwell Club selection committee with access to game footage from all FBS colleges.
ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – 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, Mammoth Tech and the Athletes' Corner. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
