Utah State linebacker David Woodward named a semifinalist for Chuck Bednarik Award

Air Force quarterback Donald Hammond III, second from left, is tackled by Utah State safety Shaq Bond, left, and linebackers David Woodward, third from left, and Kevin Meitzenheimer in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, at Air Force Academy, Colo. Hammond was hurt on the play and left the field but returned in the first half.   | David Zalubowski, AP

Woodward is one of 20 semifinalists for the award, which is presented annually to the player determined to be the best defender in college football

LOGAN — In his time at Utah State, junior linebacker David Woodward has been considered one of the best defenders in college football.

Tuesday afternoon it was made official.

Woodward was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2019 Chuck Bednarik Award. The award is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the player it deems the best defensive player in the country.

Woodward currently is first in the Mountain West Conference and second in the nation in tackles this season, with 93 (13.3 per game).

He is also first in the conference and third in the country in forced fumbles (4), and ninth in the conference in fumbles recovered (1).

In Utah State’s loss to Air Force over the weekend, Woodward recorded the 15th double-digit tackle outing of his career, finishing with 11 wrap-ups.

He has now recorded double-digit tackles in five consecutive games, the most by an Aggie since Suli Tamaivena in 2017.

Woodward has also recorded the most tackles by an FBS player in a single game this season, when he tallied 24 tackles in the Aggies’ loss to Wake Forest in the season opener.

Semifinalist voting for the Bednarik Award will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and will close on Nov. 24. Three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 25, and a second 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.

The winner of the 25th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, presented by Gildan, which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 12.

The award will be formally presented at the Maxwell Football Club’s Awards Dinner on Friday, March 6, 2020, at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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