Four Big East players were named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, which is given to the best defensive player in the country, last week. Those players are: DE Bruce Irvin (West Virginia), DE Brandon Lindsey (Pittsburgh), DT Kendall Reyes (Connecticut) and CB Keith Tandy (West Virginia).
No Big East players won awards last season, and the Bednarik hasn't been won by a Big East player since 2000 (Dan Morgan, Miami).