Baylor Football’s Ika Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

WACO, Texas – Baylor junior defensive tackle Siaki Ika landed on the Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995.
 
The LSU transfer from Salt Lake City, Utah, returns to a unit that led the conference in rushing defense in 2021 and returns six starters in 2022. He is one of 90 candidates and 10 Big 12 representatives on the list.

Ika was the 2021 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and was an Honorable Mention selection for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. Additionally, he was named to the All-Big 12 First Team by the Associated Press, All-Big 12 Second Team by the coaches and All-Texas First Team by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
 
The junior tied for the third-most sacks on the team with 4.0 and tied for the sixth-most tackles for loss with 6.0, and was also named to the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Nagurski Trophy (most outstanding defensive player) watch lists last week.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 1, 2022, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled November 22, 2022. The winners of the 28th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 8, 2022. The formal presentation of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards live from Atlantic City, NJ on March 10, 2023.