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Two of TCU’s top defenders are being recognized as two of the best in the nation, as safety Trevon Moehrig and linebacker Garret Wallow have been named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bednarik Award is one of the top honors on the defensive side of the ball in college football. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
From TCU Athletics:
Moehrig, also a Walter Camp Preseason All-American, was rated last year by Pro Football Focus as the nation’s top safety. PFF also graded him with the third-most valuable season in its college era.
A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Moehrig allowed just two of 17 contested targets to be caught and took part in a team-best seven takeaways. The Spring Branch, Texas, native was second on TCU with 62 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups while tying for the team lead with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Moehrig tied teammate and Minnesota Vikings’ first-round draft pick Jeff Gladney for second in the Big 12 and 14th nationally in passes defended at 1.25 per game.
Wallow was first-team All-Big 12 and honorable-mention Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year last season. He was also an honorable-mention All-American by Phil Steele.
A senior from New Orleans, Wallow led TCU and the Big 12 with 125 tackles, including 18 for loss with 3.5 sacks. The 125 stops ranked fourth in a season under head coach Gary Patterson. Wallow tied for ninth nationally in both tackles (10.4) and TFLs (1.5) per game.
Other Big 12 players to make the watch list include Greg Ellsworth (Iowa State), Kolby Harvell-Peel (Oklahoma State), Wyatt Hubert (Kansas State), Joseph Ossai and Kaden Sterns (Texas), Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma), and Darius Stills (West Virginia).
Frog fans are hoping for an uninterrupted season for what could be the last for these two athletes; Wallow is a senior this fall and Moehrig will be draft eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft. TCU’s scheduled season opener at Cal was cancelled when the Pac 12 removed non-conference games from their schedule. Jeremiah Donati is currently exploring other options for TCU Football to make their 2020 debut.