The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jeffcoat named semifinalist for Bednarik Award
10.29.2013 | Football
Jeffcoat is one of 16 semifinalists for award which honors nation's most outstanding defensive player
PHILADELPHIA – Texas defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat has been named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday.
Jeffcoat is one of 16 semifinalists for the award, which will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show Dec. 12 on ESPN. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 25.
Jeffcoat, who has been named Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season, leads the conference and ranks tied for 18th in the FBS in sacks (0.86 per game). The senior also has one interception, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
Jeffcoat has served as the anchor of a defense that has been instrumental in Texas' 4-0 start to Big 12 play. The Longhorns rank first in scoring defense (19.5 points per game) and second in rushing defense (122.8 yards per game) in league games. Jeffcoat leads the league in sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (8.0) in Big 12 games.
A senior, Jeffcoat ranks sixth among active FBS players in career sacks (0.60 per game) and tied for ninth (49) on the Texas career tackles for loss list. He has 20.5 career sacks and needs three more to reach the school's all-time top 10.
Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and close on Sunday, Nov. 24. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA Head Football Coaches, Sports Information Directors and selected national media. A second round of voting will take place after the finalists are announced on Nov. 2
Sam Acho was the most recent UT semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. A Texas player has never won the award which is in its 19th year of existence.
| Player | Pos. | School |
| Anthony Barr | LB | UCLA |
| Vic Beasley | DE | Clemson |
| Chris Borland | LB | Wisconsin |
| Aaron Donald | DT | Pittsburgh |
| Ifo Ekpre-Olomu | CB | Oregon |
| Kyle Fuller | CB | Virginia Tech |
| Jackson Jeffcoat | DE | Texas |
| Lamarcus Joyner | CB | Florida State |
| Khalil Mack | LB | Buffalo |
| C.J. Mosley | LB | Alabama |
| Trent Murphy | LB | Stanford |
| Michael Sam | DE | Missouri |
| Ryan Shazier | LB | Ohio State |
| Kyle Van Noy | LB | BYU |
| Nikita Whitlock | DT | Wake Forest |
| Leonard Williams | DE | USC |
