Two Dawgs Named Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Georgia senior nose guard Jordan Davis and junior linebacker Nakobe Dean have been included as two of 18 semifinalists for the 2021 Chuck Bednarik Award given to the outstanding defensive player of the year, according to an announcement by the Maxwell Football Club.
Davis, a native of Charlotte, N.C., and Dean, a native of Horn Lake, Miss., are two of six semifinalists from the Southeastern Conference and are the only two teammates on the list. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 23. The winner of the Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9.
Dean was named a Butkus Award semifinalist for the second consecutive year earlier in the day on Monday.
Former Bulldog and current New York Giant Azeez Ojulari was a semifinalist for the 2020 Bednarik Award and former Bulldog and current Chicago Bear Roquan Smith was a finalist in 2017. David Pollack is the only Georgia player to ever win the Bednarik Award in 2004.
Dean is the second-leading tackler for the Bulldogs this season with 37 stops, including five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Davis has 20 stops, including 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Together the Georgia duo has helped the Bulldogs rank first nationally in Scoring Defense (6.6 points/game) and Red Zone Defense (57 percent) and second in Total Defense (226.6 yards/game), Passing Yards Allowed (151.0 y/g) and Rushing Defense (75.6 y/g).
Nolan Smith Named SEC Defensive Player Of The Week
Georgia junior linebacker Nolan Smith has been named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in the rout of Florida, according to a league announcement.
Smith, a native of Savannah, Ga., split this week’s honor with Auburn’s Zakoby McClain.
This marks the 11th weekly honors for the Bulldogs this season and the second for Smith this season and in his career. Other winners include redshirt freshman receiver Ladd McConkey (Freshman, Auburn); senior Devonte Wyatt (Defensive Lineman, Arkansas), freshman Brock Bowers (Freshman, Vanderbilt & Kentucky), Smith (Defensive Player, South Carolina), freshman Adonai Mitchell (Freshman, South Carolina), senior Stetson Bennett (Offensive Player, UAB), senior Christopher Smith (Defensive Player, Clemson), sophomore Jalen Carter (Defensive Lineman, Kentucky) and senior Jordan Davis (Defensive Lineman, Clemson).
Smith finished with four stops, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and his first career interception during Georgia’s 34-7 beatdown of the Gators. On Florida’s first drive, Smith and teammate Devonte Wyatt stuck the Gator quarterback Anthony Richardson for a 1-yard loss on a 3rd-and-3 situation and forced Florida to punt. Smith struck again in the second quarter after he stripped the ball from Richardson and recovered it on the Gator 11-yard line, leading to Georgia’s first touchdown. On the ensuing Florida drive, Smith snagged the first pick of his career on a ball that teammate Travon Walker tipped at the Gator 36-yard line. One play later, the Bulldogs went up 17-0 on a 36-yard scoring strike.
Brock Bowers Named Mackey Award Semifinalist
Georgia true freshman Brock Bowers has been named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award given to the nation’s most outstanding tight end, according to an announcement by the award.
Bowers, a native of Napa, Calif., is one of two semifinalists from the Southeastern Conference and the only freshman on the list. The winner of the Mackey Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9.
Orson Charles was the last Bulldog to be named a semifinalist for the Mackey Award in 2011. In fact, Charles represents the only Georgia tight end to be named a finalist since the award started in 2000.
Bowers has started seven of eight games for the Bulldogs and leads the team with 26 catches for 454 yards and six touchdowns. The two-time SEC Freshman of the Week took his only career carry 12 yards for a touchdown at Vanderbilt.
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