Alabama Leads Nation With Four Defenders on Bednarik Award Watch List

Most years it would be impossible to improve a defense that produced four of the first 49 NFL Draft picks, but the Bednarik Award watch list gives the indication that Alabama could be even stronger in 2016.

The preseason list for the nation's top defensive player includes four Crimson Tide players, which is tops in the country. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, linebackers Reuben Foster and Tim Williams, and defensive back Eddie Jackson were all included when the watch list went out on Tuesday.

With each level of the defense represented, Alabama will field another unit that can disrupt an offense in a variety of ways. New defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will have plenty of talent to work with this fall as he tries to continue Kirby Smart's run of elite defenses. In 2015, Alabama led the nation in rushing defense and sacks while finishing third in scoring defense and total defense.

Over the next 10 days, all of college football award watch lists will be released.