Six players from the American Athletic Conference have been named to the preseason watch list for the 26th annual Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the national defensive player of the year in college football.
 
The watch list includes two members of Cincinnati's secondary - safety Darrick Forrest and cornerback Ahmad Gardner. Navy linebacker Diego Fagot, Temple defensive tackle Ifeanyi Maijeh, Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins and UCF safety Richie Grant were also named to the list.

Forrest, Gardner, Grant, Maijeh and Fagot were all named first team all-conference selections in 2019.  Collins was a second-team choice. 
 
The American has had one winner of the Bednarik Award in the league’s first seven seasons. Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich was the winner in 2015.
 
2020 Bednarik Award Watch List
American Athletic Conference Players

Darrick Forrest	S	Cincinnati
Ahmad Gardner	CB	Cincinnati
Diego Fagot	LB	Navy
Ifeanyi Maijeh	DT	Temple
Zaven Collins	LB	Tulsa
Richie Grant	CB	UCF