Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Football
Award will be presented in December to the outstanding defensive player of the year
PHILADELPHIA – Utah Football defensive end Jonah Elliss has been named a semifinalist for the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. He is one of 20 semifinalists.
Through 10 games this season, Elliss leads all Power Five players and ranks second overall in the FBS with 12.0 sacks. He also ranks in a tie for fifth nationally with 16.0 tackles for loss. The Moscow, Idaho, native has already been named a semifinalist for both the Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, as well as earning Midseason All-America from The Athletic, Sporting News, Associated Press and ESPN.
Elliss’ 12.0 sacks to date are the most by a Ute since Bradlee Anae’s 13.0 during the 2019 season. It also puts him in a tie for seventh-most in the Utah single-season record book.
He has made 37 total tackles on the year, forced a fumble and contributed three pass breakups. He had a streak of at least 1.0 sack in four straight games (UCLA, Oregon State, Cal, USC), including his career-high 3.5 against the Bruins.
His performance against UCLA was a career-night all around, finishing the game with 10 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss along with his 3.5 sacks. The 5.0 tackles for loss were the most by a Pac-12 player since 2021 with his 3.5 sacks marking the most by a league player since 2017.
He is a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Line Player of the Week in…
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