Cooper tabbed to Bednarik Award watch list
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UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State redshirt senior safety Jeremiah Cooper was named to the Bednarik Award watch list on Friday.
The Chuck Bednarik Award, in its 32nd year, is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Cooper was tabbed a Phil Steele fourth-team Preseason All-American in 2025, as well as named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award watch lists in 2025. He was voted All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024 and selected for the All-Big 12 first team in 2023 and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022.
Cooper played in 38 games and made 36 starts at Iowa State. There, he collected 134 tackles (82 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, eight interceptions (one touchdown) and 14 pass breakups.
In 2025, he started four games before a season-ending injury, recording nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups and allowing a 33.3 completion percentage when targeted. In 2024, he made 45 tackles (27 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, five interceptions (one touchdown) and 10 pass breakups Cooper is tied for sixth in the FBS with five interceptions and 32nd with 10 pass breakups.
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 an All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 10 and the three finalists for the award will be revealed on Nov. 24. The winner will be announced live during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.