The college football season is getting closer and closer to making its appearance on everyone's calendar, and with that come more preseason award watch lists. The latest is the Bednarik Award which will be given to South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney the nation's best defender.
On this list there are four Mountain West players, and sorry Boise State fan's, there is no Demarcus Lawrence. Here are the MWC players who made the cut, and what they did in 2012:
• Bene Benwikere, DB, San Jose State - Seven interceptions, a touchdown, recovered two fumbles, four passes broken up, a blocked kick, 67 tackles and 7.5 went for a loss.
• Jake Fely, LB, San Diego State - Ninety total tackles, 11.5 for a loss, forced two fumbles and broke up a pair of passes.
• Travis Raciti, DT, San Jose State - Recorded 52 tackles, 13 for a loss, 8.5 sacks and broke up four passes.
• Derron Smith, S, Fresno State - Six interceptions, one for a touchdown, 79 tackles, one for a loss, broke up two more passes and forced a fumble.
Lawrence's stats are comparable, if not better than some of these Mountain West players. He had 13.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, an interception, four forced fumbles recovering one and had 48 total tackles. These stats are right in line with San Jose State's Raciti, if not even better.
Debating if Lawrence earns a spot on this list is a moot point, because unless someone is to have an out of this world season, no one outside of Jadeveon Clowney will win this award. This is the reason why: