HCA: Jahad Woods named to Bednarik Award watch list

Washington State linebacker Jahad Woods was named to the 2020 Bednarik Award watch list on Monday. The award is given yearly to the nations best defensive player, he joins 12 other Pac-12 members.

Woods finished last season with 10.8 tackles per game (141 total) and finished second in the conference behind former California linebacker Evan Weaver who had 14 per game. With Weaver now in the NFL, Woods is the top returning tackler in the conference and arguably the best linebacker in the conference as well. He also finished fourth in the nation in tackles last season.

He added 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, and two forced fumbles. The accomplishments he had last season made him All-Pac-12 Honorable mention for the second time in as many seasons.

With 66 more tackles this next season he would finish fifth in school history as he has already accumulated 287 over his career. With seven more tackles for a loss he would take over the 9th spot in career tackles for a loss with 32.5.

Woods joins Stanford’s Paulson Adebo, California’s Camryn Bynum and Kuony Deng, Oregon’s Jevon Holland and Kayvon Thibodeaux, Colorado’s Nate Landman, Washington’s Elijah Molden and Levi Onwuzuriuke, Oregon State’s Hamilcar Rashed Jr., and USC’s Talanoa Hufanga, Drake Jackson, and Jay Tufele as the members of the conference to be named to the watch list.

The last Cougar to be named to the watch list was Jalen Thompson which came before the 2018 season.

The Bednarik Award will select three semi-finalists on November 3rd and the winner will be announced December 10th at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

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Football:

Washington State’s Jahad Woods included on Bednarik Award watch list

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