Penn State football players named to Bednarik Award watch list

The leaders of Penn State’s defense are in the hunt for one of the nation’s most prestigious awards.

Marcus Allen and Jason Cabinda were named to the Bednarik Award watch list on Monday morning. The Bednarik Award has been given to the best defensive player of the year since 1995.

Penn State’s four Bednarik Award recipients are most of any program in the country — and Allen and Cabinda have a chance to add to that.

Among 85 candidates for the award, Allen was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches last season. He made a team-high 110 tackles in 2016 — the first time a safety led Penn State in tackles since Shawn Mayer in 2002.

Cabinda was also a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches despite missing five games to injury. The linebacker finished third on the team with 81 tackles, making eight or more stops in all nine games he played in.

Both players starred in Penn State’s memorable upset of then-No. 2 Ohio State. Cabinda had 13 tackles and a game-clinching, fourth-quarter sack, while Allen blocked the field goal that led to Grant Haley’s iconic touchdown return.

Similar play could lead to Penn State’s fifth Bednarik Award, the first since Dan Connor in 2007.

This story was originally published July 10, 2017 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Penn State football players named to Bednarik Award watch list."