The Maxwell Football Club announced its preseason watch list for the 2022 Bednarik Award on Monday, and seven players from the Pac-12 found their names on the list.

The award is given annually to college football’s defensive player of the year. This year’s preseason list featured 90 players from all throughout the FBS level. The SEC led all Power conferences with 17 total selections. The ACC had 15 players on the list while the Big Ten had 11 and the Big 12 had 10.

Here’s the Pac-12 contingent:

  • LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
  • LB Omar Speights, Oregon State
  • DB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford
  • DL Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
  • DB Clark Phillips III, Utah
  • DL Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
  • DL Ron Stone Jr., Washington State

As with other awards, players can be added to the watch list throughout the season based on performance. Semifinalists for the 2022 Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 1, 2022, later followed by three finalists to be announced on Nov. 22. The winner of the award will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards show on Dec. 8.

A Pac-12 defender has won the award twice since it was established in 1995. USC linebacker Rey Maualuga brought it home in 2008 while Arizona’s Scooby Wright III claimed the award in 2014.

The full preseason watch list can be found here.