Northwestern University Athletics
Jackson, Walker Jr. Earn Spots on Preseason Watch Lists
7/5/2016 10:39:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Junior Anthony Walker, Jr., has been named to the watch list for the 22nd annual Bednarik Award and junior Justin Jackson is on the preseason watch list for the 80th annual Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday morning.
Walker was a consensus All-Big Ten selection and All-American honoree by the AP and Sports Illustrated last season after leading the Wildcats with 122 tackles and the nation's second most tackles for loss with 20.5. He is one of 14 Big Ten players unveiled on the Bednarik Award watch list Tuesday, and one of five linebackers from the conference. The Miami, Florida, native was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times last season and earned the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week nod when he had a season-high 19 tackles in a victory at Duke. He posted six double-digit tackling efforts in the 2015 campaign.
Jackson was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection last season after becoming the fifth player in program history to record back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, totally 1,344 yards in his sophomore campaign. He already ranks sixth in NU history in rushing yards with 2,605 on 557 carries. The Carol Stream, Illinois, native was a Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award candidate last season and went on to post eight 100-yard performances with five touchdowns in helping the Wildcats tie a program record with 10 wins.
Jackson is one of just 11 Big Ten players named to the Watch List Tuesday, and one of three running backs alongside Penn State's Saquon Barkley and Wisconsin's Corey Clement.
The Chuck Bednarik Award watch list is headlined by two 2015 semifinalists, as Texas A&M junior Myles Garrett and LSU Senior Kendall Beckwith return for the 2016 campaign. Alabama checks in with a senior quartet of 4 Tide players; Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson and Tim Williams, making the cut. Six other schools, Clemson. Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, TCU and Texas A&M are all strongly represented by 3 candidates each.
Derrick Henry capped a brilliant college career at Alabama by becoming the second Crimson Tide player in school history to win the 2015 Maxwell Award. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, and will attempt to make an immediate NFL impact this fall. 2015 Bednarik Award winner Tyler Matakevich of Temple has also moved on to the professional ranks and is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, 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 watch lists will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast. Returning Maxwell Award finalists Clemson's quarterback Deshaun Watson and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey lead the way for the 2016 watch list class. Baylor and Clemson lead the pack with 3 Maxwell Award candidates each as we enter the season.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced October 31, 2016, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled November 21, 2016. The winners of the 2016 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 8, 2016. The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 10, 2017.
Walker was a consensus All-Big Ten selection and All-American honoree by the AP and Sports Illustrated last season after leading the Wildcats with 122 tackles and the nation's second most tackles for loss with 20.5. He is one of 14 Big Ten players unveiled on the Bednarik Award watch list Tuesday, and one of five linebackers from the conference. The Miami, Florida, native was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times last season and earned the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week nod when he had a season-high 19 tackles in a victory at Duke. He posted six double-digit tackling efforts in the 2015 campaign.
Jackson was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection last season after becoming the fifth player in program history to record back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, totally 1,344 yards in his sophomore campaign. He already ranks sixth in NU history in rushing yards with 2,605 on 557 carries. The Carol Stream, Illinois, native was a Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award candidate last season and went on to post eight 100-yard performances with five touchdowns in helping the Wildcats tie a program record with 10 wins.
Jackson is one of just 11 Big Ten players named to the Watch List Tuesday, and one of three running backs alongside Penn State's Saquon Barkley and Wisconsin's Corey Clement.
The Chuck Bednarik Award watch list is headlined by two 2015 semifinalists, as Texas A&M junior Myles Garrett and LSU Senior Kendall Beckwith return for the 2016 campaign. Alabama checks in with a senior quartet of 4 Tide players; Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson and Tim Williams, making the cut. Six other schools, Clemson. Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, TCU and Texas A&M are all strongly represented by 3 candidates each.
Derrick Henry capped a brilliant college career at Alabama by becoming the second Crimson Tide player in school history to win the 2015 Maxwell Award. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, and will attempt to make an immediate NFL impact this fall. 2015 Bednarik Award winner Tyler Matakevich of Temple has also moved on to the professional ranks and is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, 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 watch lists will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast. Returning Maxwell Award finalists Clemson's quarterback Deshaun Watson and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey lead the way for the 2016 watch list class. Baylor and Clemson lead the pack with 3 Maxwell Award candidates each as we enter the season.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced October 31, 2016, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled November 21, 2016. The winners of the 2016 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 8, 2016. The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 10, 2017.
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