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Straughter Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Straughter Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Football Jul 13
MONROE, La. – ULM senior cornerback Corey Straughter, who ranked among the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision leaders in interceptions (tied for seventh with 5) and passes defended (tied for 14th with 15) last season, has been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List. The Bednarik Award has been presented annually since 1995 to college football's defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
 
In 2019, Straughter was named All-American by both USA TODAY (second team) and Pro Football Focus (third team) as well as First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference. His 15 passes defended led the Sun Belt and his five interceptions tied for the league lead. Straughter allowed the nation's lowest passer rating (13.5), lowest completion percentage (28.6) and fewest combined receptions for first downs and touchdowns (7). His 89.9 coverage grade ranked sixth-highest among all NCAA FBS cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed only one touchdown reception in 2019 (came in the season finale at the Ragin' Cajuns) and one explosive pass play (20-plus yards; came on the opening drive of Game 11 vs. Coastal Carolina).
 
The Monroe, Louisiana, native also contributed 23 tackles (18 solos, 5 assists).
 
The 5-foot-10, 183-pound Straughter registered three tackles and a pass break-up in the home finale against Coastal Carolina.
 
He was selected to the PFF Sun Belt Conference Defensive Team of the Week three times last season: against South Alabama, at Texas State and against Georgia State.
 
Straughter intercepted Arkansas State's Layne Hatcher's third-down pass attempt at the Warhawk 36 and returned it 22 yards to set up ULM's game-tying touchdown (34-34) late in the third quarter. He also contributed three tackles and a pass break-up against the Red Wolves.
 
Early last season, Straughter recorded an interception in three consecutive games (back-to-back road games at Florida State and Iowa State and the Sun Belt opener against South Alabama).
 
His interception and 25-yard return to the Texas State 2-yard line in the final 90 seconds iced ULM's 24-14 win over the Bobcats. Straughter also recorded a career-high four pass break-ups and a solo tackle at Texas State.
 
He limited Memphis' leading receiver Damonte Coxie (entered the game with 18 catches for 278 yards and TD) to just two receptions for 18 yards.
 
With the score tied at 7-7 early in the second quarter of ULM's Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama, Straughter ended an 11-play, 62-yard drive to the Warhawk 13 by intercepting Cephus Johnson's third-and-goal pass attempt into the end zone. He added two tackles against the Jaguars.
 
He matched his season high with four tackles (all solo hits) to go along with an interception at Iowa State.
 
With ULM trailing Florida State 24-7 midway through the third quarter, the complexion of the game changed when Straughter intercepted James Blackman's first-down pass attempt along the sideline and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. It marked his second career interception return for a score. Straughter also tallied four stops against the Seminoles.
 
His career totals include nine career interceptions and 19 career pass break-ups. Straughter already ranks among ULM's all-time Top 20 in interception return yards (second at 250), pass break-ups (ninth) and interceptions (tied for 15th).
 
The award is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a two-time consensus All-American who led the University of Pennsylvania to a combined record of 24-7-1 (.765) from 1945-48 including three-straight Top 15 finishes in the Associated Press Polls in 1945 (No. 10),'46 (No. 13) and '47 (No. 7). A two-way starter for Penn at center and linebacker, Bednarik placed among the Top 10 in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1947 (No. 7) and '48 (No. 3). As a senior in 1948, he was presented the Maxwell Award as college football's most outstanding player, becoming the first offensive lineman to receive the honor. During his collegiate career, the Penn defense posted 10 shutouts, including four each in 1945 and '47. Bednarik was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1969.
 
A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Bednarik played his entire collegiate and pro careers in Philadelphia. He became the first overall pick in the 1949 NFL Draft by the Eagles. Bednarik spent 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949-62, and his career totals included 20 interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries. He started 166 of 169 career games while playing on both sides of the football. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection and six-time First-Team All-Pro, Bednarik was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
 
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