Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Forbes on Bednarik Award Watch List
July 18, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
Mississippi State cornerback in the running for award presented each year to college football’s top defensive player.
STARKVILLE – On the heels of an outstanding freshman season, Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes will enter his sophomore year in the running to be college football's top defensive player.
Forbes has been placed on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, it was announced on Monday. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the best defender in the college game.
This year's Bednarik Award watch list is made up of 90 candidates. Forbes finds himself among the group as he looks to build upon his outstanding debut season with the Bulldogs.
In 2020, Forbes broke the MSU single-season mark for interception return touchdowns with three. He scored on a 60-yard return against Texas A&M, a 29-yarder against Missouri and a 90-yarder against Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl. The 90-yard interception return for a touchdown is tied for the sixth-longest return in MSU history.
Forbes also set a new Bulldog mark for interception return yards in a season with 183. He finished the year with five total interceptions, 44 tackles and 11 passes defended.
Forbes' three pick-sixes from last year's campaign will allow him to head into the 2021 season as the NCAA's active leader in interception return touchdowns. He's tied for No. 2 nationally in defensive touchdowns by active players.
Forbes is one of only five Southeastern Conference cornerbacks placed on this year's Bednarik Award watch list. The other four are Alabama's Josh Jobe, Florida's Kaiir Elam and LSU's Derek Stingley and Eli Ricks.
The winner of the 2021 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 9.
Forbes has been placed on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, it was announced on Monday. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the best defender in the college game.
This year's Bednarik Award watch list is made up of 90 candidates. Forbes finds himself among the group as he looks to build upon his outstanding debut season with the Bulldogs.
In 2020, Forbes broke the MSU single-season mark for interception return touchdowns with three. He scored on a 60-yard return against Texas A&M, a 29-yarder against Missouri and a 90-yarder against Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl. The 90-yard interception return for a touchdown is tied for the sixth-longest return in MSU history.
Forbes also set a new Bulldog mark for interception return yards in a season with 183. He finished the year with five total interceptions, 44 tackles and 11 passes defended.
Forbes' three pick-sixes from last year's campaign will allow him to head into the 2021 season as the NCAA's active leader in interception return touchdowns. He's tied for No. 2 nationally in defensive touchdowns by active players.
Forbes is one of only five Southeastern Conference cornerbacks placed on this year's Bednarik Award watch list. The other four are Alabama's Josh Jobe, Florida's Kaiir Elam and LSU's Derek Stingley and Eli Ricks.
The winner of the 2021 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 9.
Players Mentioned
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