MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 13, 2023) – West Virginia University senior cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award, signifying the outstanding defensive player of the year as selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed statistical and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts have been added to the selection committee and have participated in the process. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete football reference in the country.
Bishop’s Resume:
On the defensive side of the ball, the field of contenders is comprised of fresh faces. Seven different conferences and one independent are represented, led by four student-athletes each from the Big Ten and SEC and three each from the Big 12 and ACC.
2023 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Dallas Turner, Alabama, LB
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, LB
Malaki Starks, Georgia, DB
Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, DL
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, DB
TJ Tampa, Iowa State, DB
Jalen Green, James Madison, DL
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, DL
Kris Jenkins, Michigan, DL
Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri, DB
Payton Wilson, NC State, LB
Howard Cross III, Notre Dame, DL
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, LB
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion, LB
T’Vondre Sweat, Texas, DL
Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, LB
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, CB
Laiatu Latu, UCLA, DL
Jonah Elliss, Utah, DE
Beanie Bishop Jr., West Virginia, CB
Semifinalist voting for collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Wednesday Nov. 14 and will close on Nov. 26. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 28 and a finalist 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. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school with the player's school, position and class designated.
The winners of the Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Friday December 8, 2023. The formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 87th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held on Friday March 8, 2024.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed statistical and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts have been added to the selection committee and have participated in the process. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete football reference in the country.
Bishop’s Resume:
- Has started all 10 games for West Virginia at cornerback
- According to PFF College, leads Power 5 cornerbacks with forced incompletions (15)
- According to PFF College, leads Power 5 in ball-hawk rate (interceptions and forced incompletions combined)
- Leads the nation in passes defended (23 total, 2.3 per game)
- Leads the nation in pass breakups (19)
- Ranked No. 9 nationally in interceptions (4)
- Needs three pass breakups to set the school’s single-season pass breakup record
- Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Co-Newcomer of the Week for the UCF Game (two interceptions returned for 51 yards and a pass breakup)
- Has posted 12 pass breakups over the past four games and 23 tackles during that stretch
- Finished with five tackles, including four solo stops and tied the school pass breakup record (5) against BYU
- Had eight tackles, including seven solo stops and two pass breakups at Oklahoma
- Returned an interception 40 yards and had seven tackles against Pitt
- Finished with nine tackles, including seven solo stops and two pass breakups, at TCU
On the defensive side of the ball, the field of contenders is comprised of fresh faces. Seven different conferences and one independent are represented, led by four student-athletes each from the Big Ten and SEC and three each from the Big 12 and ACC.
2023 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Dallas Turner, Alabama, LB
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, LB
Malaki Starks, Georgia, DB
Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, DL
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, DB
TJ Tampa, Iowa State, DB
Jalen Green, James Madison, DL
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, DL
Kris Jenkins, Michigan, DL
Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri, DB
Payton Wilson, NC State, LB
Howard Cross III, Notre Dame, DL
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, LB
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion, LB
T’Vondre Sweat, Texas, DL
Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, LB
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, CB
Laiatu Latu, UCLA, DL
Jonah Elliss, Utah, DE
Beanie Bishop Jr., West Virginia, CB
Semifinalist voting for collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Wednesday Nov. 14 and will close on Nov. 26. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 28 and a finalist 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. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school with the player's school, position and class designated.
The winners of the Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Friday December 8, 2023. The formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 87th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held on Friday March 8, 2024.
