Ohio State’s Denzel Burke, Caleb Downs and Jack Sawyer on Bednarik Award Watch List

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke, safety Caleb Downs and defensive end Jack Sawyer are among 90 players on the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, which honors college football’s best defensive player.

Check out the 2024 #BednarikAward Watchlist #MaxwellFootball

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— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) August 12, 2024

Downs and Burke are each now on preseason watch lists for four national defensive awards as both of them are also on the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which also honors the nation’s best defensive player; the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors college football’s best defensive back; and the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which honors a defensive player who makes a big impact both on and off the field.

Sawyer, on the other hand, lands on his first preseason watch list. While he was left off the Nagurski and Lott watch lists in favor of fellow Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau, Sawyer is also expected to be one of the best defensive ends in the country this season after a spectacular finish to 2023, in which he recorded 7.5 tackles for loss with five sacks in Ohio State’s final three games.

Collectively, they make Ohio State one of five schools with three players on the watch list along with Georgia (Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon and Malaki Starks), Iowa (Sebastian Castro, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson), Michigan (Will Johnson, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant) and Notre Dame (Benjamin Morrison, Howard Cross III and Xavier Watts).

Buckeyes on Preseason Awards Watch Lists

Maxwell Award

• Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver
• Quinshon Judkins, running back
• Will Howard, quarterback

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

• Caleb Downs, safety
• Tyleik Williams, defensive tackle
• JT Tuimoloau, defensive end
• Denzel Burke, cornerback

Outland Trophy

• Josh Fryar, offensive tackle
• Donovan Jackson, offensive lineman
• Tyleik Williams, defensive tackle

Jim Thorpe Award

• Denzel Burke, cornerback
• Caleb Downs, safety

Lott IMPACT Trophy

• Denzel Burke, cornerback
• Caleb Downs, safety
• JT Tuimoloau, defensive end

Dodd Trophy

• Ryan Day, head coach

Paul Hornung Award

• Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver

Wuerffel Trophy

• Seth McLaughlin, offensive line

Walter Camp Player of The Year

• Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver
• Quinshon Judkins, running back
• Will Howard, quarterback

Doak Walker Award

• TreVeyon Henderson, running back
• Quinshon Judkins, running back

Biletnikoff Award

• Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver

Davey O'Brien Award

• Will Howard, quarterback

Rimington Trophy

• Seth McLaughlin, offensive line

Bednarik Award

• Denzel Burke, cornerback
• Caleb Downs, safety
• Jack Sawyer, defensive end