TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona defensive back Tacario Davis has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch list, as announced today by the Maxwell Football Club.
 
Tacario Davis makes his first appearance on the Bednarik Award Watch List, which honors the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Davis earns this honor after leading the Pac-12 with 15 pass breakups and 16 passes defended in 2023, leading to an AP Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
 
Davis finished 2023 with a career-high 25 tackles and adds the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List to a growing list of preseason accolades including the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Nagurski Trophy Watch List, preseason All-Big 12, Athlon Sports All-American, and Phil Steele All-American.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994. It is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple-year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on offense and defense.
 
The Bednarik Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, led by 4 returning 2023 semifinalists: Malaki Starks (Georgia), Ashton Gillotte (Louisville), Howard Cross III (Notre Dame) and Jason Henderson (Old Dominion). Georgia, Iowa, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State lead the way with 3 candidates each and an additional 13 schools boast 2 players represented. 6 conferences are represented, SEC (21), ACC (19), Big10 (19), Big12 (13), AAC (4), MAC (4), Mountain West (4), and Sunbelt (3). 3 Independents have candidates listed.
 
Last year's Chuck Bednarik Award winner was Payton Wilson Jr. (NC State) who went on to be the 3rd round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson was the first NC State player to win the Bednarik Award.
 
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled on November 26, 2024. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024.
 
The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
Arizona opens the 2024 season against New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. at Arizona Stadium on ESPN.