SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – San Diego State safety Tariq Thompson and defensive tackle Cameron Thomas have each been named to the preseason watch list for the 26th annual Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. The Aztecs are one of 21 programs to have multiple players on the preseason list, presented to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Last season, the duo helped SDSU to a 10-3 record, the program's fourth double-digit win campaign over the last five years. San Diego State led the Mountain West in 2019 in scoring defense (12.7, 2nd in FBS), rush defense (75.4, 2nd in FBS), total defense (287.8, 5th in FBS) and defensive pass efficiency (110.25, 6th in FBS).
Thompson (San Diego/St. Augustine High) registered 55 tackles (44 solo) last year to go along with three tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (tied for sixth in Aztec single-season history). For his efforts, Thompson earned second-team all-Mountain West accolades for a third consecutive season.
For his career, Thompson is tied for fifth all-time at SDSU in fumble recoveries (5) and tied for seventh in interceptions (11), while totaling 178 tackles. Thompson, who has started all 39 games since arriving on campus in 2017, enters his final season tied for second among active FBS players in interceptions (11) and seventh in interceptions per game (0.28).
Thomas (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad High), meanwhile, had 49 tackles year ago as a redshirt freshman, including 9.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups and 13 quarterback hurries. Thomas racked up numerous postseason awards in 2019, including freshman second-team All-America accolades from The Athletic and first-team all-MW honors. Thomas, who was the only freshman on the all-MW first team (offense or defense), also was chosen as San Diego State's defensive lineman of the year and the co-outstanding freshman award.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the Univ. of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67. The 2019 winner of the award was Ohio State's Chase Young.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 3 with the three finalists unveiled Nov. 23. The winner of the 2020 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 12, 2021.