ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) -- The reigning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year is garnering attention for the upcoming season. Shaquem Griffin was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list Monday.
The Maxwell Football Club named the award in honor of Bednarik, a former Penn and Philadelphia Eagles Standout, who is also a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Griffin finished No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference and No. 12 in the nation in 2016 with 11.5 sacks. He was No. 3 in The American and No. 13 nationally with 20.0 tackles for-loss. Griffin also racked up a total of 92 tackles, including a team-high mark of 57 unassisted stops. He broke up seven passes, tallied two forced fumbles, recovered two fumbles and grabbed an interception.
Griffin will be representing UCF at American Athletic Conference Media Days July 17-18 in Newport, R.I.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced October 30, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled November 20. The winner of the 2017 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7.
