Illinois DE Oluwole Betiku Jr. named to Bednarik Award watch list

Illinois defensive end Oluwole Betiku Jr., was added to the national watch list annually given to the best defensive player in college football.

The Bednarik Award is presented to the college defensive player of the year at the College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.

When Betiku transferred to Illinois for his final two seasons of college football, he was already considered one of the premier pass rushers in the nation. However, the preseason award watch lists are compiled based on 2018 performances. Betiku, a graduate transfer from Southern California, did not play in a game last season at USC due to offseason hip surgery, before enrolling at graduate school at Illinois.

Betiku currently ranks third in the nation in sacks (1.4) and tackles for loss (2.1) per game. He had a career-high 3.5 sacks at UConn in Illini's 31-23 win on Sept. 7. Betiku's mark in that week two matchup tied for the fifth-most, single-game sack total in Illinois history.

Betiku has 23 tackles (14 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries in the first five games of this season. His sack total this season already is more than or equal to Illinois' single-season leader in 18 of the last 23 years.

Betiku was one of the Illini's most impactful transfers in recent years as he arrived at the program as a 5-star prospect and the No. 15 overall player in the 2016 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com. Betiku played 14 total games between 2016 and 2017 at USC and totaled just two tackles and no sacks.