UCLA Football: Eddie Vanderdoes Named to the Bednarik Award Watch List
UCLA Football Defensive Tackle Eddie Vanderdoes has been named to the Bednarik Award watch list.
Two award watch lists have been made and two UCLA football players have been named to them. After Josh Rosen was named to the Maxwell Award watch list (for the best player in the nation), Eddie Vanderdoes finds his name on the Bernarik Award watch list.
Related Story: Phil Steele Has UCLA in his Top 40
The Bednarik Award is named after college football great Chuck Bednarik and is given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Despite missing out on the season after one game in 2015 due to a knee injury, Vanderdoes is expected to make a roaring come back in 2016. In his only game last year, EV racked up eight tackles including two for a loss.
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
In the previous season, he was named a Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore with 50 total tackles starting in 12 of 13 games. He even scored a touchdown as a running back in the Bruin’s diamond formation on offense.
After nearly a year of rehabilitation, Vanderdoes is ready to make his return and that is getting the attention of a lot of college football critics from around the country. Both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports selected EV for their preseason All-American teams.
And why? Vanderdoes is not only an aggressively physical defensive tackle and has good pursuit for a big man, but after missing out on what cold have been a breakout season in 2015 with Kenny Clark, EV will be looking to make up some lost ground.
Next: Projecting the UCLA Football Depth Chart - RBs and FBs
Do not be surprised if Vanderdoes is one of the finalists for this award at the end of the season. He is just that good. Go Bruins!