March 28, 2024

K-State’s Hubert Lands on Bednarik Award Watch List

(Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics)

MANHATTAN, Kan. – One of the top returning defensive ends in the nation in 2020, Kansas State junior Wyatt Hubert has been named to the watch list for the 26th annual Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

Hubert is the first Wildcat to land on the watch list for the Bednarik Award – presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year – since D.J. Reed in 2017. He is the eighth player in school history to be considered for the award, which includes 1996 finalist Chris Canty and 2012 semifinalist Arthur Brown.

A 2019 First Team All-Big 12 performer, Hubert enters his junior season ranked 12th nationally among active players in career sacks per game (0.50) and 13th in career tackles for loss per game (0.91). Hubert, who earned votes for both the league’s defensive player and defensive lineman of the year awards last year, has recorded 11.5 sacks over his first two seasons, tied for the second most ever by a Wildcat prior to his junior campaign.

Hubert, a native of Topeka, Kansas, started 12 games last season with 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He tied for second in the Big 12 in sacks and was 10th in TFLs. He tied his career high with 2.0 sacks against both Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, while he had a season-high for tackles and 1.5 TFLs in K-State’s win over No. 5 Oklahoma.

The Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which is unveiling their preseason watch lists.