Cincinnati Bearcats Blanked On Bednarik, Maxwell Award Watch Lists

During a point in the offseason when college football watch lists are created and include just about every active player in the game, not one Cincinnati Bearcat made the Bednarik or Maxwell Award watch lists when they were released today.

The Maxwell Trophy is presented on March 6th, 2015 to college football’s top offensive player. Florida State quarterback, and Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston won the award last season. On the flip side, the Bednarik Trophy is awarded to the nation’s top defensive player, who was Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald in 2013.

And it’s that one where I’m surprised no Bearcat was named to the watch list.

Considering a whopping 76 players were selected, you’d think Cincinnati linebacker Nick Temple or defensive end Silverberry Mouhon would have made the cut. Temple returns as a senior next season and one of the most dynamic players on the Bearcats’ defense, notching the fifth most tackles for loss among returning linebackers in college football. Additionally, Silverberry Mouhon racked up 9.5 sacks last season as a sophomore, good for 19th best in the country and third highest among returning juniors in college football.

So yea, not seeing either of them on the Bednarik Award watch list makes little sense to me. Oh well, it’s not football season if some if not all of the Bearcats aren’t playing with a chip on their shoulders. Let’s hope this bulletin board material lights a fire under Temple and Mouhon in 2014. RIP, AAC.