The Bednarik Award honors the nation’s top defensive player in college football this season, and on Tuesday the watch list for the 2016 award was released. What’s next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you’re in the loop — take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! Included on the list of the 90 defenders across the nation were 2 members of the Silver Bullets in DL Tyquan Lewis and LB Raekwon McMillan. Lewis earned a starting spot at defensive end last year for the Buckeyes and led the team in sacks with 8 on the season. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior is going to be the veteran on an inexperienced defensive line unit that is expected to replace the production of NFL departures Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington from last year’s group. McMillan also enters his second season as a starter, having stepped into that role at middle linebacker for the Buckeyes in 2015. He was a Butkus Award finalist last year, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors after leading the team in tackles (119). He is also the veteran of his linebacker group, with the Bucks needing to replace their two starting outside linebacker, Joshua Perry and Darron Lee, who were taken in this spring’s NFL Draft as well. The full Bednarik Award Watch List can be found by clicking here.
Continue Reading: Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List
