Carter, Winston Named To Bednarik Award Watch List – Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior defensive end Abdul Carter and junior safety Kevin Winston Jr. were tabbed to the Bednarik Award Watch List on Monday.

The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually, by the Maxwell Football Club, to the outstanding defensive player in college football.

Abdul Carter · Jr. · DE · 6-3 · 259 · Philadelphia, Pa. · La Salle College High School

• Named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch Lists.
• Tabbed to Walter Camp Award Preseason All-America Team.
• Garnered first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and second-team from the media.
• Tabbed second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated.
• Earned Penn State’s Keystone Award winner on defense, sharing the honor with Kevin Winston Jr.
• Was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media and third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2022.
• Made switch from linebacker to defensive end following 2023 season.
• Has tallied 104 tackles (61 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and nine pass breakups entering his third season in Happy Valley.
• Notched 48 tackles (25 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, five pass breakups and five QB hurries in 2023.

• According to Pro Football Focus, his 24.1 pass rush win percentage ranked third in the FBS among players with at least 100 pass rush snaps last season.

• Started the 2023 campaign with a solo sack in the fourth quarter against West Virginia.
• Recorded his first career interception against Illinois and posted a career-high nine tackles and a pass breakup at Ohio State.
• Secured a solo sack against Maryland and forced a fumble against Michigan.
• Tied a career high with two sacks at Michigan State.

Kevin Winston Jr. · Jr. · S · 6-2 · 205 · Columbia, Md. · DeMatha Catholic

• Has appeared in 25 career games, making 13 starts.
• Tabbed All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2023.
• Through his first two seasons in Happy Valley, tallied 77 tackles (45 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception and five pass breakups.
• Started all 13 games at safety last season, recording a team-high 60 tackles (35 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, an interception and five pass breakups.
• According to Pro Football Focus, allowed a 50 completion percentage and forced four incompletions when targeted.
• Earned a 90.6 run defense grade, leading the Big Ten…