The National College Football Awards Association has released the Bednarik and Maxwell Preseason Watch Lists and the Texas Longhorns boast players on both lists. The Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s defensive player of the year, sees junior defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, senior defensive end Alex Okafor and senior safety Kenny Vaccaro with spots on the list. The Maxwell Award, which recognizes the college football player of the year, tabbed Texas sophmore running back Malcolm Brown on the list. With a punishing defensive unit that led the Big 12 and finished in the top 15 nationally in 2011, it is no surprise the Longhorns are well-represented on the Bednarik watch list. Offensively, there are high expectations for Malcolm Brown who returns this season healthy and poised for a breakout year. Brown looks to shoulder the load in the backfield along with sophmore running back Joe Bergeron and incoming freshman running back Johnathan Gray.
Former Texas players to win the Maxwell Award include Tommy Nobis, Ricky Williams, Vince Young and Colt McCoy. No Longhorn football player has ever won the Bednarik Award, which was first awarded in 1995 to former Northwestern player and current Wildcat head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
