Tremaine Edmunds Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Junior linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has been named to the Bednarik Award watch list for the 2017-18 season. The award has been given to the top defensive player in the nation since 1995.

Edmunds finished last season second in tackles for the Hokies with 106, including 18 tackles-for-loss. Additionally, he forced and recovered a fumble, recorded four sacks, and intercepted a pass against Arkansas in the Belk Bowl.

The second-team All-ACC selection finished 15th in the conference in total tackles and tied for sixth in tackles-for-loss with teammate Woody Baron. He started all 14 games for the Hokies as just a true sophomore.

Edmunds will be an important part of a veteran linebacking corps that figures to be squarely among the top groups in the ACC. He’s among seven starters that return on defense. That unit finished in the top 20 in total defense for the 13th time during Bud Foster’s tenure as defensive coordinator.

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He was among the Hokies who earned a ‘Hard Hat Award’ during spring practice. The award is given by Ben Hilgart and his staff to players who performed at an elite level during an intense eight-week strength and conditioning program.

Chuck Bednarik was a veteran of the United States Army Air Forces who attended the University of Pennsylvania after serving. He played both offense and defense and was named a three-time All-American. Bednarik was selected No. 1 overall in the 1949 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bednarik was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

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