Allen, Short on watch list

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue’s Ricardo Allen and Kawann Short are among the 65 Football Bowl Subdivision players on the watch list for the 2012 Chuck Bednarik Award. The Bednarik Award has been given to the nation's top defensive player since 1995.

Allen led Purdue with three interceptions in 2011, including one for a touchdown against Minnesota on Oct. 8. His pick-six against the Gophers was the third of his career, tying him for the all-time school record of three in just his 17th collegiate game. He finished fourth for Purdue with 81 total tackles in 2011, including three for losses, and he also had seven passes defended.

Short enters his final season at Purdue fifteenth all-time in school history in tackles for loss (33.5) and sacks (12.5). He is coming off a junior year that saw him finish with career highs in tackles (54), tackles for loss (17.0) and sacks (6.5). He led Purdue in both tackles for loss and sacks in 2011.

Purdue is one of 19 of the 120 FBS schools to have two or more players listed on the national watch list for the Bednarik Award and one of seven Big Ten Conference schools with at least one player represented.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced October 29, and the three finalists for the award will be handed out on November 19.