Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Azeez Al-Shaair, a senior linebacker for Florida Atlantic University's football has been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, announced the Maxwell Football Club on Monday.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.

The Chuck Bednarik Award watch list features returning semifinalists Dexter Lawrence (Clemson), Joe Giles-Harris (Duke), Ed Oliver (Houston), Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi State), Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) and Nick Bosa (Ohio State).

Al-Shaair is one of 86 members on the current list and is one of two listed from Conference USA.

Al-Shaair, a three-year C-USA postseason honoree and a 2015 Freshman All-American selection, led the conference in total tackles and was No. 5 nationally last year. He will enter the 2018 season as Conference USA's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Owls will report to campus for preseason drills Thursday, Aug. 2. FAU will open the 2018 season at Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 1 at noon. The game will be carried on Fox.

Tickets for home games can be purchased by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS. All FAU football games can be heard by tuning into ESPN West Palm 106.3 or on the ESPN App.

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