Oct. 9, 2013
Philadelphia, Pa.----- San Jose State University linebacker Keith Smith, the nation's leading tackler this season, is one of nine defensive players added to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.
Sponsored by the Maxwell Football Club, the Bednarik Award honors the top defensive player Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and is named after the Philadelphia Eagles' Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
Smith is averaging 16.0 tackles per game for the first five games of the season. According to Stats.com, he became the first player to be credited with 20 or more tackles in consecutive games since tackles were acknowledged as an official NCAA individual football statistic in 2000. Smith was credited with 21 tackles at Minnesota on September 14 and 20 tackles against Utah State on September 27.
The San Jose State co-captain is the third Spartan on the 2013 Bednarik Award watch list. During the preseason, defensive tackle Travis Raciti and cornerback Bené Benwikere were named to the watch list.
The Maxwell Club will announce the semifinalists for the Bednarik Award on October 29 and finalists on November 18. The award winners will be presented on the December 5 Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show.