Temple University Athletics
Tyler Matakevich Wins Chuck Bednarik Award
12.10.15 | Football, T. Matakevich - All-American Candidate
PHILADELPHIA -Â Tyler Matakevich, senior linebacker for the Temple Owls, was named the winner of the 2015 Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced live on ESPN on Thursday night. The honor is given annually to the nation's best defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles, and is ninth all-time on the NCAA career list. This season, Matakevich has racked up 126 total tackles, and became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
Earlier this week, Matakevich was named the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and was also honored as the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year. He remains a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Senior CLASS Award. Matakevich was also named first team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and USA Today – the first Temple defensive player ever to achieve first team recognition.
Vying for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the National Defensive Player of the Year with Matakevich were Penn State end Carl Nassib and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland.
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The announcement of the 2015 winner of the Bednarik Award was part of the ESPN Home Depot 25th Anniversary College Football Awards broadcast live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday December 10. The Chuck Bednarik Award was presented by Coach Dick Vermeil who is a Super Bowl winning coach with the St. Louis Rams and former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Vermeil is also a longtime member of the Maxwell Football Club Board of Governors.
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Named after Chuck Bednarik, the award is given to the nation's best defensive player. Bednarik, known as the "Iron Man" and "Concrete Charlie," was a two-way standout with the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 years. A three-time All-American at the University of Pennsylvania, Bednarik is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames. He passed away earlier this year, just shy of his 90th birthday.
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Click here to watch video.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles, and is ninth all-time on the NCAA career list. This season, Matakevich has racked up 126 total tackles, and became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
Earlier this week, Matakevich was named the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and was also honored as the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year. He remains a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Senior CLASS Award. Matakevich was also named first team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and USA Today – the first Temple defensive player ever to achieve first team recognition.
Vying for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the National Defensive Player of the Year with Matakevich were Penn State end Carl Nassib and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland.
Â
The announcement of the 2015 winner of the Bednarik Award was part of the ESPN Home Depot 25th Anniversary College Football Awards broadcast live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday December 10. The Chuck Bednarik Award was presented by Coach Dick Vermeil who is a Super Bowl winning coach with the St. Louis Rams and former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Vermeil is also a longtime member of the Maxwell Football Club Board of Governors.
Â
Named after Chuck Bednarik, the award is given to the nation's best defensive player. Bednarik, known as the "Iron Man" and "Concrete Charlie," was a two-way standout with the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 years. A three-time All-American at the University of Pennsylvania, Bednarik is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames. He passed away earlier this year, just shy of his 90th birthday.
Â
Click here to watch video.
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