PHILADELPHIA – The Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday that South Alabama safety Yam Banks has been named to the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
This is the third preseason watch list for Banks as has also been named to both the Bronco Nagurski Award (top defensive player) and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back) this summer.
Banks – a first-team all-Sun Belt selection a year ago and an All-America honoree by Phil Steele (honorable mention), PFF (second team) CFN (third team) in 2022 – finished with a team-high six interceptions, including one against Western Kentucky at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.