UNC Football: Gray named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watchlist

UNC Football senior linebacker Cedric Gray has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watchlist for the 2023 football season.

One of the top linebackers in the country, UNC football linebacker Cedric Gray is getting the recognition he deserves after the phenomenal 2022 season that he had. Gray has already racked up several pre-season awards and been named to quite a few national watchlists.

Most recently, he was named to the Butkus Award Watchlist, which is given annually to the most impactful linebacker at the collegiate level. Now we can add Gray’s name to another watchlist, this time it’s the Chuck Bednarik Award.

The Chuck Bednarik Award is given annually by the Maxwell Football Club. The Chuck Bednarik Award is awarded to the best defensive player in all of college football. Linebackers have won this award in three of the previous six seasons.

The likes of Ndamukong Suh, Patrick Peterson, Aaron Donald, and Minkah Fitzpatrick have won this prestigious award.

As previously noted, Gray was third in the country in tackles last season with 145 and leading all Power Five players. Some of that can be pointed to the inconsistent defensive play from the other 10 players on the field – but a large part of it is that Gray is just that good. If the Tar Heels hope to live up to their preseason expectations this season, then Gray is going to certainly be a huge factor on that side of the ball.

You can read more about the Chuck Bednarik Award here and more about Gray, who is now on three defensive award watchlists, here.

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