Three members of Penn State's defense -- linebackers Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman and tackle Jared Odrick -- are candidates for the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.
Penn State, Oklahoma and UCLA are the only schools with three members on the "watch list."
The Nittany Lions' Dan Connor won the award in 2007 and Paul Posluszny won in 2005 and 2006. LaVar Arrington also won the award in 1999.
Other Big Ten candidates include Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer, Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham, Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones, Indiana defensive end Jammie Kirlew and Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton.
Odrick and teammate Stefen Wisniewski (center) also are members of the "watch list" for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior linemen.
The Nittany Lions are the only Big Ten school with multiple nominees on the 40-man preseason list. Penn State's only Outland winner was All-America defensive tackle Mike Reid in 1969.
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