AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn linebacker K.J. Britt was one of 90 players named to the 2020 Bednarik Award Watch List on Monday. The award, named in honor of College Football and NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Britt took over for Deshaun Davis and started 12 of 13 games last year as a junior. He was third on the team with 69 tackles, which included a career-high eight tackles against Minnesota in the Outback Bowl. He also recorded 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble. He was voted First Team All-SEC by the Associated Press and Second Team All-SEC by the league's coaches.
Heading into his senior year, Britt is considered one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2021 draft. He's rated as the No. 3 inside linebacker per ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Auburn has yet to have a Bednarik Award winner in its history, but defensive lineman Derrick Brown was one of three finalists for the award last year. Including Britt, the Tigers have had at least one player named to the award's watch list in each of the past four years with Brown in 2019, Dontavius Russell and Javaris Davis in 2018, and Tray Matthews in 2017. Nick Fairley was also a finalist for the award in 2010.
Semifinalists for the 2020 Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 3 while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 23. The winner of this year's award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Dept College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10.
2020 Bednarik Award Watch List
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) July 13, 2020
K.J. "Downhill" Britt ☑️ pic.twitter.com/r2xmLcNL1z