Kennard Added to Mid-Season Bednarik and Lombardi Award Watch Lists

University of South Carolina senior EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard has been added to the mid-season watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football, and for the Lombardi Award™ which honors the outstanding college football lineman.

Kennard, a 6-5, 254-pounder from Atlanta, Ga., ranks among the nation’s leaders in both sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). He leads the SEC and is fourth in the country in sacks and leads the SEC and is tied for second in the nation in tackles for loss. He logged 2.5 sacks in the season opener against Old Dominion, helping him earn co-SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He was named the nation’s 14th best player by ESPN and is a midseason third-team All-American according to College Football Network.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was 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 both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, 2024. The winner 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.

The Lombardi Award™, given annually to the best offensive or defensive college lineman in the country, will once again be handed out in a ceremony in Houston, Texas on December 11, 2024.

The history and significance of the Lombardi Award are deeply rooted in the legacy of Coach Vince Lombardi and his commitment to character, discipline, and excellence. This prestigious accolade continues to honor the Outstanding College Football Lineman, whether on offense or defense, who displays exceptional performance and ability and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi championed throughout his life.