BOONE, N.C. — For the second straight year, App State defensive end
Demetrius Taylor and cornerback
Shaun Jolly have been named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award that is presented to the top defensive player in college football.
App State has at least one Bednarik candidate for the third straight year and is one of just four Group of Five programs with multiple watch list selections this year. The others are Central Michigan, Cincinnati and San Diego State.
In his two seasons as a starter and first-team All-Sun Belt selection, Taylor has posted 84 tackles, 26.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and nine passes defended (with one interception). His 19.5 career sacks rank fourth among active FBS players, and he has also totaled 35.5 tackles for loss in his career.
Jolly has received All-America recognition in each of his first two years as a starter, with PFF College naming him a second-team All-American to end a five-interception campaign in 2019 and Phil Steele naming him an Honorable Mention All-American in 2020.
Also a first-team All-Sun Belt pick in 2019 and 2020, Jolly has recorded 19 passes defended and 86 tackles in his two years as a starter.
The Maxwell Football Club announced the watch list candidates for the award named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles.
