Wake Forest Athletics
Abbate Named To Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
6/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 13, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - Wake Forest junior linebacker Jon Abbate was named to the 2006 watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to college football's Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The watch list includes 60 candidates as selected by the Maxwell Football Club Advisory Committee, headed by Maxwell Football Club President, Ron Jaworski.
Abbate, a native of Powder Springs, Ga., was a member of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list and earned All-ACC honorable mention as a sophomore last season. Abbate was the first player to lead the Demon Deacons in tackles in consecutive seasons since 1993-94 and the first player to ever to do as a freshman and sophomore.
In 2005, Abbate played through injuries to his hamstring, shoulder and a gashed nose. Nonetheless, he averaged 7.7 tackles per game to lead Wake Forest and rank 10th in the ACC in that category. Abbate was named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Clemson on October 1. He had 13 tackles and two interceptions in the win against Tigers.
As a rookie, Abbate was a freshman All-American and the runner-up for ACC Rookie of the Year behind All-American receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech.
Abbate is one of six ACC linebackers, 11 players overall, to make the watch list. Of the 60 players, only 20 are underclassmen.
Twelve semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced in October and the field will be trimmed to three finalists in November. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show that will be broadcast on ESPN in December. The formal presentation of the Bednarik Award will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Banquet in March 2007.
2006 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
PLAYER UNIVERSITY POS CLASSAbbate, Jon Wake Forest LB JRAdams, Gaines Clemson DE SRAdibi, Xavier Va Tech LB JRAh You, C.J. Oklahoma DE SRAlexander, Rufus Oklahoma LB SRBattle, Tra Georgia DB SRBazuin, Daniel C Michigan DE SRBlades, H.B. Pittsburgh LB SRBlake, Tommy TCU DE JRBrown, Kareem Miami DL SRBrown, Kevin UCLA DL SRBruce, Mkristo Wash State DE SRBryant, Red Texas A&M DT JRBunting, Nick Tulsa LB JRBurgess, Prescott Michigan LB SRCaldwell, Rob Navy LB SRCarriker, Adam Nebraska DE SRCason, Antoine Arizona DB JRConnor, Dan Penn State LB JRCrowder, Tim Texas DE SRCushing, Brian USC LB SophDavis, Buster Florida St LB SREverett, Earl Florida LB SRGriffin, Michael Texas DB SRGroves, Quinton Auburn DE JRHall, Korey Boise St LB SRHall, Vince Va Tech LB JRHarrell, Justin Tennessee DL SRHerring, Will Auburn LB SRHighsmith, Ali LSU LB JRHoward, Loren Arizona St DE SRHughes, Daymeion California DB SRJackson, Lawrence USC DE JRLandry, La Ron LSU DB SRLua, Oscar USC LB SRMcKeon, Corey Nebraska LB JRMcLee, Kevin W Virginia LB SRMcSwain, Larry UAB DE SRMebane, Brandon California DL SRMeriweather, Brandon Miami DB SRMoses, Quentin Georgia DE SRNelson, Reggie Florida DB JROkam, Frank Texas DT JROlajubutu, Sam Arkansas LB SRPhillips, Kenny Miami DB SophPitcock, Quinn Ohio State DL SRPosluszny, Paul Penn State LB SRPressley, DeMario NC State DL SophRivers, Keith USC LB JRShaw, Tim Penn State LB SRSiler, Brandon Florida LB JRTaylor, Tony Georgia LB SRThomas, Marcus Florida DL SRToal, Brian Boston Coll LB JRWalters, Anthony Clemson LB SRWarren, Justin Texas A&M LB SRWeddle, Eric Utah DB SRWillis, Patrick Ole Miss LB SRWoodley, LaMarr Michigan DE SRZbikowski, Tom Notre Dame DB SR
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