PHILADELPHIA - As kickoff to the 2023 season approaches, linebacker Levelle Bailey has added another preseason honor to his list of accolades as the Chuck Bednarik Award unveiled the Bulldog on its preseason watch list ahead of his senior season at Fresno State.
The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
The preseason watch list is made up of 85 defensive players from around the country. Bailey is one of five from the Mountain West.
The Sacramento native enters the 2023 season as the most experienced player on the Bulldogs' defense, having played (45) and started (36) in the most games on that side of the ball. Bailey returns as the team's leading tackler from 2022, totaling 88 tackles (54 solo) for a single-season career-best. In his career, he has 195 tackles (114 solo), 20.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks. He adds three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 17 pass breakups.
Bailey is a three-time All-Mountain West honorable mention linebacker (2020, 2021, 2022).
This preseason, he has been named to the Shrine Bowl 1000, and he was a preseason All-Mountain West linebacker by Phil Steele (first team) and Athlon Sports (second team). Bailey was also a nominee for the Allstate and AFCA Good Works team for his efforts in and around the community. His preseason watch lists by the NCFAA in addition to the Bednarik Award are watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (FWAA's national defensive player of the year) and the Wuerffel Trophy (college football's premier award for community service).
Flashback
Former Bulldog Evan Williams was named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award a year ago. Former Bulldog linebackers who have been recognized by the award's committee include Justin Rice, Mykal Walker and Jeff Allison.
About the Bednarik Award
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 13, while the three finalists are scheduled to be revealed Nov. 28. The winner of the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7.