The Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player, has released its preseason watch list complete with 11 Big 12 players up for the award. Here's the list, in alphabetical order:

• A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
• Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
• Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• Demontre Hurst, CB, Oklahoma
• Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
• Brodrick Brown, CB, Oklahoma State
• Stansly Maponga, DE, TCU
• Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
• Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
• Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

That's a pretty good list. The biggest snubs in my book are all cornerbacks. Where is Texas' duo of Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs? And what about Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert. All deserving.

Last season, Tyrann Mathieu became the second consecutive LSU player to win the award, following up Patrick Peterson in 2010.

Ndamukong Suh (2009) was the last Big 12 player to win the award. Teddy Lehman of Oklahoma (2003) was the last player among current Big 12 teams to take home the trophy.