Stephen Paea Is Bednarik Semifinalist

Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea hasn't put up big numbers this year, but his unsung efforts against constant double-teams are still earning him recognition.

Paea has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the 16th annual Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club. He is the only player from the Pac-10 on the list.

Paea was the 2009 co-recipient of the Pac-10 Conference’s Morris Trophy for the league’s top defensive lineman. The native of Tonga was a 2009 All-Pac-10 First Team selection and earned honorable mention in 2008. He currently has career totals of 105 total tackles, 25 tackles-for-loss and 12 quarterback sacks.

You can see the entire list of semifinalists here.

The winners of the 74th Maxwell Award and the 16th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 22, and a second round of voting will take place at that time.

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Will Tukuafu on the Bednarik Watch List

Oregon defensive end Will Tukuafu is one of 55 players on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given to college football's top defensive player.

Tukuafu had already been named to the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive end.

Tukuafu, who had 7 ½ sacks and 17 ½ tackles for loss last season, is one of nine Pacific-10 Conference players on the 55-man Bednarik list.

The 25-year-old Tukuafu is not only older than most of his teammates, but he also is one of the few married players on the team. He credits much of his success on the field with the support he receives at home from wife Krystal, who he married in February 2008.

"Marriage has been awesome," Tukuafu said. "I have the greatest wife in the world. She helps me so much, more than she probably even knows."

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