Kansas State's Dante Barnett makes Bednarik Award watch list
Dante Barnett is one of 80 football players on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, given to the top defender in college, announced Tuesday.
Barnett, a senior defensive back, earned the recognition coming off a strong junior year in which he made 77 tackles, defended 11 passes and grabbed three interceptions. He received all-conference honors from the Big 12’s coaches, ESPN and Phil Steele.
A team captain and with 176 career tackles, Barnett is expected to receive more accolades as the season approaches.
Barnett is the sixth K-State player to make his way on the Bednarik Award watch list, and the first since defensive end Ryan Mueller last year. The others are cornerback Chris Canty in 1996, linebacker Arthur Brown and cornerback Nigel Malone in 2012 and defensive back Ty Zimmerman in 2013.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 2, finalists will be unveiled three weeks later and the award will be presented on Dec. 10 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Reach Kellis Robinett at krobinett@wichitaeagle.com. Follow him on Twitter: @kellisrobinett.
This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Kansas State's Dante Barnett makes Bednarik Award watch list."