UConn junior cornerback Jamar Summers was among the players named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award which is presented annually to the nation's best defensive player.

Summers led UConn with eight interceptions and 11 passes defended as a sophomore. He also had 39 tackles for the Huskies.

Summers did not have an interception in the first four games of the season (of course two of those games were against triple option offenses) but had at least one interception in seven of the last nine games. His 67-yard interception return was the only touchdown in a 7-3 win over Tulane, he picked off two passes in a 31-13 win over East Carolina and also had one in the upset of Houston.

Here's a link to the players on the watch lists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards

This kicks off the release of watch lists for most of the awards as the Mackey Award (tight ends) and Rimington Trophy (center) will be announced tomorrow, kickers and punters will get their day with the release of the Groza and Guy watch lists on Thursday and the last of the watch lists released this week will be the Nagurski and Outland lists on Friday.