Collins named to Bednarik Award Watch List

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss senior defensive lineman Jamie Collins has been named to the preseason Watch List for the 18th annual Bednarik Awards, released by the Maxwell Football Club in Philadelphia, Pa., Monday morning.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the nation's top defensive player since 1995. A former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chuck Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of 1969 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of 1967 of which the award is named.

Collins, from McCall Creek, Miss., returns as the team's top tackler. In three seasons, Collins has posted 222 stops (127 solos) with 25.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, to go along with 10 pass breaks, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and a blocked kick.

Two of his interceptions have been returned for touchdowns, including a 97-yard return last year at East Carolina and a 32-yard against the Pirates at home in 2010.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Oct. 29, and the three finalists for the award will be unveiled Nov. 19. The winner of the 2012 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 6. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 1, 2013.

The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club's selection committee, evaluating past performance and future potential. The Club reserves the right to make additions and deletions to these lists as the 2012 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for the awards.