Ohio State Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and Defensive End JT Tuimoloau Among 86 Players on Bednarik Award Watch List

On Monday, The Maxwell Football Club announced Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and defensive end JT Tuimoloau as two of 86 players named to a watch list for the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award, an honor presented to college football's most outstanding defensive player.

The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.#MaxwellFootball #BednarikAward pic.twitter.com/oZawTNnIDg

— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) August 14, 2023

The Buckeyes' two nominees were tied with Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Illinois and Florida State for the third most in college football. Clemson and Penn State led all programs with three nominees each.

With his appearance on the Bednarik Award watch list, Eichenberg leads all Buckeyes with five preseason honors, as his other accolades include watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Butkus Award and Walter Camp Award. Tuimoloau has previously appeared on watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski and Lott IMPACT trophies.

Last season, Eichenberg had a breakout season at Ohio State. He recorded a team-best 120 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one interception and one touchdown across 13 appearances. Even more, he racked up some of those numbers as he played with two broken hands. After the season, Eichenberg received first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American honors.

As for Tuimoloau, the 6-foot-4, 271-pound defensive end has made 26 appearances across two years with the Buckeyes. He ended the 2022 season with 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Those numbers were bolstered by one of the best individual performances in college football history when Tuimoloau recorded two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a touchdown in Ohio State's 44-31 win over Penn State.

Eichenberg and Tuimoloau are among 14 Buckeyes named to preseason watch lists for various awards in August. As mentioned above, Eichenberg leads all Ohio State players with five nominations, followed by Emeka Egbuka with four and Marvin Harrison Jr. with three. We have collected all of those nominations and included them below.

Ohio State Players on Preseason Watch Lists

• WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Walter Camp Award
• WR Emeka Egbuka: Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Award
• G Donovan Jackson: Outland Trophy
• G Matt Jones: Outland Trophy
• DT Mike Hall Jr.: Outland Trophy
• DE JT Tuimoloau: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award
• LB Tommy Eichenberg: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Butkus Award, Walter Camp Award, Chuck Bednarik Award
• LB Steele Chambers: Butkus Award
• S Lathan Ransom: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award
• P Jesse Mirco: Ray Guy Award
• TE Cade Stover: Mackey Award
• RB TreVeyon Henderson: Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award
• RB Miyan Williams: Doak Walker Award
• CB Denzel Burke: Jim Thorpe Award