Longhorns trio named to Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
With the start of the college football season only a few weeks away, the Texas Longhorns are making national headlines. On Monday, the talented trio of Anthony Hill Jr., Colin Simmons, and Michael Taaffe was named to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award. The award is given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year.
For many in Austin, the trio's inclusion on the watch list comes as no surprise. Over the last few years, they have made life difficult for offensive coordinators. This marks the second time that Hill is in the running for the Chuck Bednarik Award.
In 16 games last season, Hill was one of the best at his position. He led the Longhorns in tackles with 103 and tackles for loss with 16.5. The Texas native also finished third on the team in sacks with eight while adding three double-digit tackling performances to his resume. Due to Hill's play, he earned national praise last October with Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors.
As Hill was a human highlight reel, he got help from Simmons. In his freshman year, Duncanville High School led the Longhorns in sacks with nine. He also forced three fumbles and recorded 48 total tackles. Simmons proved to be an immediate star and made history. He became the first Longhorns player to win the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award.
Rounding out the list is Taaffe, who has become a fan favorite. The former walk-on added 78 tackles and two interceptions to his resume last year. He was also the only Longhorns player to record an interception and a forced fumble in the same game. In the postseason, he continued to thrive with a career-high 10 tackles in the Quarterfinal against Arizona State. Regardless of the opponents, Taaffe found a way to make an impact.
While the trio's focus will be on helping Texas rack up as many wins as possible, they will also be watching how voting for the award plays out. On November 11th, the semifinalists will be revealed. A few weeks later, the three finalists will be announced before a winner is named on December 11th. The Longhorns are hoping to have a reason to celebrate when a new winner is crowned.
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