Penn State’s Defensive Trio Poised to Shake Up Bednarik Award Race—Could One Claim the Crown?

He received All-Big Ten honorable mention last season after he was voted to the all-conference third team in 2023.

He was earlier named to the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, also presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player, and for the Outland Trophy, presented to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.The Bednarik Award semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 11, and the three finalists on Nov. 25. The winner will be announced during ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11.
He was earlier named to the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy. He was voted to the All-Big Ten third team last season.
Durant was named to preseason All-America teams chosen by the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He received All-Big Ten honorable mention the last two seasons.
Harris will begin his second season as a starting cornerback after making 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups last season, his first at Penn State.
Durant will enter his third season as a starter at defensive tackle with 64 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
Originally Published: August 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM EDT
It’s always thrilling to see Penn State’s defensive stalwarts get their due recognition, and this week was no exception. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, and A.J. Harris have all landed on the prestigious Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, an honor reserved for the nation’s elite defensive football players. From Dennis-Sutton’s disruptive presence off the edge to Durant’s commanding force in the trenches, and Harris’s lockdown corner skills — these three are carrying the Nittany Lions’ defensive hopes into the new season with some serious momentum. Their track records speak volumes, but now the eyes of the college football world are on them as they chase one of the highest individual defensive honors. November’s semifinal and final announcements will surely be nail-biters! LEARN MORE
Three Penn State football players were named Monday to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Dennis-Sutton will begin his second season as a starting defensive end with 85 tackles in his career, 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and five pass breakups.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant and A.J. Harris were among the 90 players selected to the Bednarik watch list.