PHILADELPHIA – Old Dominion University Football linebacker Jason Henderson is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award given to the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Tuesday. Henderson is one of 20 semifinalists for the award.
Henderson leads the country with 129 tackles and in tackles per game with 16.1. He recorded 17 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss last week against Georgia State. The Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania native has reached double digits in tackles in all eight games this season and is the only FBS player to record multiple 20+ tackle games this season.
On Saturday at Georgia State, Henderson broke the single-season school record for tackles, previously set by TJ Ricks with 123 in 2015.
Henderson is joined by Cincinnati's Ivan Pace Jr. as the only Group of Five players on the list.
Henderson and the Monarchs host on Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.
Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists
| Name | School | Position |
| Will Anderson Jr. | Alabama | LB |
| Kool-Aid McKinstry | Alabama | CB |
| Drew Sanders | Arkansas | LB |
| Ivan Pace Jr. | Cincinnati | LB |
| Tyler Davis | Clemson | DT |
| Christopher Smith | Georgia | S |
| Jer'Zhan Newton | Illinois | DT |
| Devon Witherspoon | Illinois | CB |
| Jack Campbell | Iowa | LB |
| Feliz Anudike-Uzomah | Kansas State | DE |
| Mike Morris | Michigan | DE |
| Emmanuel Forbes | Mississippi State | CB |
| Tommy Eichenberg | Ohio State | LB |
| Jason Henderson | Old Dominion | LB |
| Joey Porter Jr. | Penn State | CB |
| Calijah Kancey | Pittsburgh | DT |
| Tyree Wilson | Texas Tech | LB |
| Tuli Tuipulotu | USC | DT |
| Clark Phillips III | Utah | CB |
| John Torchio | Wisconsin | S |