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Bonitto Added to Bednarik Award Watch List
December 03, 2020 | Football
NORMAN — Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was added on Thursday to the final watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Players were selected to the watch list by the Maxwell Football Club national selection committee and are eligible for consideration as semifinalists for the Bednarik Award.
Bonitto, a redshirt sophomore, has started all eight of OU's games this season and leads the Sooners with 6.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss (for a total of 49 lost yards). He has registered 24 total tackles and two pass breakups, and has been credited with a team-high nine QB hurries. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product ranks third in the Big 12 in sacks (fifth in sack yardage) and seventh in tackles for loss (fourth in TFL yardage). He notched personal season highs of 3.0 sacks against Kansas and five tackles each against Texas (2.0 sacks) and Oklahoma State.
Bonitto joins junior defensive end Ronnie Perkins in contention for the Bednarik Award. Perkins, who has tallied 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his three games this season, was named on the preseason watch list. Semifinalists will be named Dec. 6.
Oklahoma (6-2, 5-2 Big 12) plays host to Baylor (2-5, 2-5) on Saturday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
Players were selected to the watch list by the Maxwell Football Club national selection committee and are eligible for consideration as semifinalists for the Bednarik Award.
Bonitto, a redshirt sophomore, has started all eight of OU's games this season and leads the Sooners with 6.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss (for a total of 49 lost yards). He has registered 24 total tackles and two pass breakups, and has been credited with a team-high nine QB hurries. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product ranks third in the Big 12 in sacks (fifth in sack yardage) and seventh in tackles for loss (fourth in TFL yardage). He notched personal season highs of 3.0 sacks against Kansas and five tackles each against Texas (2.0 sacks) and Oklahoma State.
Bonitto joins junior defensive end Ronnie Perkins in contention for the Bednarik Award. Perkins, who has tallied 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his three games this season, was named on the preseason watch list. Semifinalists will be named Dec. 6.
Oklahoma (6-2, 5-2 Big 12) plays host to Baylor (2-5, 2-5) on Saturday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
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