The University of Akron Athletics
Akron’s Gilbert Named to Bednarik Watch List
July 18 | Football
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2018 Season Tickets
2018 Bednarik Watch List
PHILADELPHIA– University of Akron senior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) has been named to the Watch List for the 24th Annual Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
The Chuck Bednarik Award watch list features fresh faces, as 2017 finalists Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), Bradley Chubb (NC State), and Roquan Smith (Georgia) have all moved on to the NFL. Returning semifinalists include Dexter Lawrence (Clemson), Joe Giles-Harris (Duke), Ed Oliver (Houston), Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi State), Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) and Nick Bosa (Ohio State). Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and USC lead the way with three candidates each on the 2018 list.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced October 29, 2018, while the three finalists will be unveiled November 19, 2018. The winner of the 2018 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 6, 2018. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 8, 2019.
A two-time first-team All-MAC honoree and two-time team Defensive MVP, Gilbert is a 2018 preseason first-team All-MAC selection. In 2017, Gilbert started all 14 games at Will linebacker. UA's top defender had 141 tackles, 58 more tackles than the next Zip. He had 9.5 TFL, a team-best five sacks, three interceptions, four break-ups, and five hurries. Gilbert scored two touchdowns last fall, one on an interception return and another on a fumble recovery. He earned both MAC Defensive Player of the Week and Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week honors twice during the season.
Akron opens the 2018 season at Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 1. The game will kick off on FOX at 8 p.m. ET.
Akron hosts Morgan State in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all home games and the "I Love the 90's" concert as well as a parking pass— start at only $60 each. As a season ticket holder, fans have the ability to purchase tickets for road games at Nebraska, Northwestern, and Iowa State.
To request tickets, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or purchase the deposit online at www.GoZips.com.
2018 Season Tickets
2018 Bednarik Watch List
PHILADELPHIA– University of Akron senior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) has been named to the Watch List for the 24th Annual Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
The Chuck Bednarik Award watch list features fresh faces, as 2017 finalists Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), Bradley Chubb (NC State), and Roquan Smith (Georgia) have all moved on to the NFL. Returning semifinalists include Dexter Lawrence (Clemson), Joe Giles-Harris (Duke), Ed Oliver (Houston), Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi State), Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) and Nick Bosa (Ohio State). Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and USC lead the way with three candidates each on the 2018 list.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced October 29, 2018, while the three finalists will be unveiled November 19, 2018. The winner of the 2018 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 6, 2018. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 8, 2019.
A two-time first-team All-MAC honoree and two-time team Defensive MVP, Gilbert is a 2018 preseason first-team All-MAC selection. In 2017, Gilbert started all 14 games at Will linebacker. UA's top defender had 141 tackles, 58 more tackles than the next Zip. He had 9.5 TFL, a team-best five sacks, three interceptions, four break-ups, and five hurries. Gilbert scored two touchdowns last fall, one on an interception return and another on a fumble recovery. He earned both MAC Defensive Player of the Week and Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week honors twice during the season.
Akron opens the 2018 season at Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 1. The game will kick off on FOX at 8 p.m. ET.
Akron hosts Morgan State in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all home games and the "I Love the 90's" concert as well as a parking pass— start at only $60 each. As a season ticket holder, fans have the ability to purchase tickets for road games at Nebraska, Northwestern, and Iowa State.
To request tickets, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or purchase the deposit online at www.GoZips.com.
Players Mentioned
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