Josh Allen Named Bednarik Award Winner
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky senior linebacker Josh Allen has been named the winner of the 24th Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year.
Allen was announced the winner at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Atlanta. The formal presentation will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on Friday, March 8, 2019.
Allen, a senior from Montclair, New Jersey, has been a pass rush terror so far this season. With 28.5 career sacks and 14 sacks in 2018, he now holds UK’s career and single-season records. His 11 career forced fumbles tie former Wildcat and current Chicago Bear linebacker Danny Trevathan for UK’s career mark (forced fumbles stats available since 1988). He leads the team with 84 tackles and paces the SEC in sacks, tackles for loss (18.5) and forced fumbles (5). Twelve of his 14 sacks have come in the second half of games, including eight in the fourth quarter. In five of UK’s nine wins this season, Allen had a sack late in the fourth quarter that was crucial to the Wildcat victory.
Allen already has received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, signifying the National Defensive Player of the Year, and was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the AP and SEC coaches. He also is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive player of the year). He has been named a first-team All-American by TheAthletic.com, Sports Illustrated, and Walter Camp.
Awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club were announced by Mr. Mark Wolpert (MFC Executive Director) mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org, and Mr. Richard Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org (Director of Collegiate Awards).
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