Iowa football linebacker Cam Buffington is a semifinalist for another national defensive award.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the third-year Hawkeye linebacker is a Bednarik Award Semifinalist. The Bednarik Award is given annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the best defensive player in college football. It's named after College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik. Buffington is one of 18 semifinalists for this year's award.
Among the nation's best on defense.
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 10, 2026
Cam Buffington ➡️ Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist 🏆 pic.twitter.com/yuLMKk5PzR
Buffington has had a fantastic season for Phil Parker's defense. His 82 total tackles lead the team and are the second-most by a single player in the Big Ten. He's also added three sacks and nine
tackles for loss, leading one of the best defenses in college football.
If he wins the Bednarik Award, Buffington would become the first Hawkeye to take home the trophy. That's saying something, considering the long lineage of great defensive players at Iowa during Kirk Ferentz's tenure.
Finalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 24. The winner will be revealed on Dec. 11 at the ESPN College Football Awards Show.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football LB Cam Buffington named Bednarik Award semifinalist
