Poyer on Bednarik Award watch list

By OSU Media Services Published: Jul 9, 2012 at 3:50 PM PDT
Poyer on Bednarik Award watch list
Arizona State wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad (4) can't pull in a pass in the end zone as Oregon State cornerback Jordan Poyer (14) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Corvallis – Senior cornerback Jordan Poyer continues to add to his preseason accolades honors by being recognized on the 18th annual Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player and includes 66 student-athletes on its preseason roster.
                                                                                              
The Astoria, Ore., native is already a member of the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) list for the top defensive back and punt returner, is a candidate for the Lott Trophy and as selected by Phil Steele a fourth team All-American, the seventh-best cornerback and 17th-best punt returner in the country. Blue Ribbon Yearbook added the co-team captain to its Pac-12 first team squad.

Poyer was a Pac-12 Conference Second Team selection last season on defense after making 57 tackles, 12 pass deflections and four interceptions. In addition, he averaged 14.1 yards per punt return last year and set a Reser Stadium record with an 85-yard return for a touchdown against UCLA. He also averaged 22.7 yards on 30 kickoff returns.

The CFPA also added senior Markus Wheaton to its list of top receivers in the country and included sophomore Malcolm Agnew to its running backs unit. Wheaton, also a co-team captain, enters the season with 1,750 career receiving yards on 136 receptions (ninth in OSU history). Agnew battled a hamstring injury last season that forced him out of four games, but he still led the team in rushing with 423 yards and co-led for touchdowns with five.