Cece Jefferson has been named to the watch list for the 23rd Bednarik Award.
Trio of Gators Named to Maxwell, Bednarik Watch Lists
Monday, July 10, 2017 | Football
Duke Dawson, Cece Jefferson and Malik Zaire named to national award watch lists.
2017 Bednarik Watch List | 2017 Maxwell Watch List
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three Florida Gators – defensive back Duke Dawson, defensive lineman Cece Jefferson and quarterback Malik Zaire – were named to the 2017 watch lists announced by the Maxwell Football Club.
Dawson and Jefferson were each named to the watch list for the 23rd Bednarik Award and Zaire was selected to the 81st annual Maxwell Award watch list for the third-straight year.
Dawson, a second-team Pro Football Focus All-SEC as a junior, played in 12 games last season played and started seven at nickel corner. The Cross City, Fla. native recorded one interception (returned for a touchdown) in 2016 and a team-high seven pass breakups. Overall, Dawson totaled 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble last fall. The African American studies major enters his senior campaign with 48 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions, which were both returned for touchdowns.
Jefferson, a junior majoring in social and behavior sciences, is a rising star who has played in 26 of the 27 games over the past two years including making six starts last season as a sophomore. Overall, the Glen St. Mary, Fla. native recorded 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries last season. For his efforts as a rookie in 2015, Jefferson was named to the SEC Coaches All-Freshman Team, PFF All-Freshman Second Team. He enters his junior campaign with 59 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, four sacks and seven quarterback hurries.
Zaire (pictured right), who enrolled in UF's mass communications graduate program on June 26, has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for the third-straight year. In 2016 at Notre Dame, the Kettering, Ohio product competed in seven games and completed 8-of-18 passes for 92 yards. In addition, he totaled 34 yards on the ground on 20 rushing attempts. Two season ago in 2015 for the Fighting' Irish, Zaire started the first two games of the season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury at Virginia. During those first two contests, Zaire completed 26-of-40 passes for 428 yards and four TDs on the season. Not to mention, he rushed for 103 yards on 19 carries.The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced October 30, 2017, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled November 20, 2017. The winners of the 2017 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2017. The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 9, 2018.
NCFAA Preseason Watch Lists Unveiling Schedule
July 10
- Bednarik Award:
- Maxwell Award:
- Mackey Award
- Rimington Trophy
- Lou Groza Award
- Ray Guy Award
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- Outland Trophy
- Jim Thorpe Award
- Butkus Award
- Paul Hornung Award
- Biletnikoff Award
- Wuerffel Trophy
- Davey O'Brien Award
- Doak Walker Award
- Walter Camp Award
Players Mentioned
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