Two Sooners Named to Bednarik Watch List

Alex Grinch’s “Speed D” is gaining acclaim.

Two of Grinch’s top names on the Oklahoma defense were named Monday to the Bednarik Award preseason watch list.

Rush linebacker Nik Bonitto and defensive end Isaiah Thomas were among the 88 players identified for this year’s award for the top defensive player in college football. The trophy is presented by the Maxwell Football Club.

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The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Bonitto, a fourth-year junior from Fort Lauderdale, FL, was a Pro Football Focus first-team All-American last season, while the 6-5, 266-pound Thomas, a fifth-year senior from Tulsa, was named second-team All-Big 12.

Thomas led the Sooners with 8.5 quarterback sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, while Bonitto was second with 8.0 sacks and 13 TFLs.

OU’s only previous Bednarik Award winner was linebacker Teddy Lehman, who powered the Sooners’ No. 1-ranked defense in 2003. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris was a Bednarik finalist that season as well.

Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins won the Bednarik last season.

2021 Preseason Bednarik Award Watch List

Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
Demetrius Taylor, DE, Appalachian State
Shaun Jolly, CB, Appalachian State
Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
Grant Morgan, LB, Arkansas
Jalen Catalon, S, Arkansas
Zakoby McClain, LB, Auburn
Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor
James Patterson, LB, Buffalo
Cameron Goode, LB, Cal
Troy Hairston, DE, Central Michigan
Troy Brown, LB, Central Michigan
Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
Nolan Turner, S, Clemson
Jeffrey Gunter, DE, Coastal Carolina
Nate Landman, LB, Colorado
Scott Patchan, DE, Colorado State
Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Amari Gainer, LB, Florida State
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
Derrick Canteen, CB, Georgia Southern
Darius Mausau, LB, Hawaii
Jake Hansen, LB, Illinois
Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
Tiawan Mullen, CB, Indiana
Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State
Mike Rose, LB, Iowa State
Durrell Johnson, DE, Liberty
Bralen Trahan, S, Louisiana
Tyler Grubbs, LB, Louisiana Tech
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
Eli Ricks, CB, LSU
Quindell Johnson, S, Memphis
Bubba Bolden, S, Miami (Fl.)
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
Trajan Jeffcoat, DE, Missouri
Diego Fagot, LB, Navy
Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
Lawson Hall, LB, Nevada
Jeremiah Gemmel, LB, North Carolina
Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Haskell Garrett, DT, Ohio State
Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State
Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma
Isaiah Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
Kolby Harvell-Peel, S, Oklahoma State
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
Avery Roberts, LB, Oregon State
Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
Olakunle Fatukasi, LB, Rutgers
Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State
Caden McDonald, LB, San Diego State
Cade Hall, DE, San Jose State
Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina
Ochaun Mathis, DE, TCU
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas
DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
Colin Schooler, LB, Texas Tech
Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo
Carlton Martial, LB, Troy
Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
Jaxon Player, DT, Tulsa
Kris Moll, LB, UAB
Drake Jackson, LB, USC
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Justin Rice, LB, Utah State
Praise Amaewhule, DE, UTEP
Rashad Wisdom, S, UTSA
Anfernee Orji, LB, Vanderbilt
Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Dante Stills, DT, West Virginia
DeAngelo Malone, DE, Western Kentucky
Ralph Holley, DT, Western Michigan
Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming