Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker was named one of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award, as announced Wednesday morning by the Maxwell Football Club.

The Bednarik Award annually recognizes college football’s best overall defensive player. Brisker is one of only two safeties included on the list of semifinalists.

To this point in the season, Brisker has recorded 36 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and numerous clutch defensive stops. His presence is a shining spot on a Penn State defense that has been shaken with three straight losses.

Brisker is continuing to build on what has already been a year full of recognition, as prior to this season, the Nittany Lion defensive leader was named to the Bednarik watchlist. Brisker was also recently named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, for defensive backs.

The Big Ten had three other representatives on the exclusive list, including Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Purdue’s George Karlaftis, and Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal.

Since the award’s creation in 1995, a Penn State player has had the Bednarik bestowed on them four times before, making Brisker a potential fifth for the Nittany Lions. LaVar Arrington (in 1999), Paul Posluszny (consecutively in 2005 and 2006), and Dan Connor (in 2007) are the past Nittany Lion recipients.