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Oklahoma football: Ronnie Perkins on 2020 Bednarik Award watch list

By Chip Rouse

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners rushes quarterback Dru Brown #6 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners rushes quarterback Dru Brown #6 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Oklahoma football defensive player Ronnie Perkins has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2020 Bednarik Award.

Perkins is one of 90 preseason candidates for this year’s Bednarik Award, which recognizes the best defensive player in college football.

The junior defensive end is expected to miss the first five games of the 2020 because of a suspension that was imposed by the NCAA on Perkins and two other Sooner players (running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver (Trejan Bridges) for failing a drug test prior to OU’s College Football Playoff game with LSU last season.

There has been a question about whether the players involved would have to sit out five more games to complete the NCAA requirement of missing half a season for such a rules violation, but Lincoln Riley told reporters this week that there has not been a final determination on the matter largely because of greater priorities at the moment with the continuing concerns over COVID-19.

Before his suspension late last season. Perkins was second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks. He was credited with 38 total stops for the season and a forced fumble. He was a major disruptive force in contributing to Oklahoma’s remarkable comeback win at Baylor, recording four tackles for loss and three sacks in the game.

Only one Oklahoma player is a previous winner of the Bednarik Award: linebacker Teddy Lehman in 2003.

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 250-pound Perkins is one of 10 defensive players from the Big 12 to be named to the 2020 watch list for the Bednarik Award.

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