Ole Miss defensive end Cedric Johnson Named to Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss football senior defensive end Cedric Johnson has been named to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club.
The Bednarik Award, named for Penn’s three-time All-American Chuck Bednarik, is given annually to college football’s defensive player of the year. Cedric is one of 85 defensive players nationally and among 11 within the SEC selected to the watch list.
The Cedric Johnson File
Johnson, a Mobile, Alabama native, enters 2023 as the Rebels’ active career leader in sacks with 13.5. For this coming season he’s been named preseason First Team All-SEC by Phil Steele, Third Team by Athlon, and Third Team by Lindy’s.
Cedric has represented Ole Miss football at SEC Media Days twice, in 2023 and 2022.
Cedric Johnson is having himself a day for Ole Miss! pic.twitter.com/BYluZXHaPa
— College Football Network (@CFN365) October 22, 2022
In 2022 as a junior, Johnson played in 11 games, starting eight at defensive end. He finished the season with 32 total tackles, 4.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He also blocked a punt against Georgia Tech, becoming the first Rebel since 2012 to block a punt and record a sack in the same game.
As a sophomore in 2021, Johnson appeared in all 13 games and started 11 at defensive end. He notched 33 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss, and finished the season ranked second on the team with 6.5 sacks. He was also third on the squad with seven quarterback hurries.
In 2020, Johnson appeared in all 10 games of the COVID-shortened season as both a reserve linebacker and on special teams.
#Bears fans like to look for perfect scheme fits in their draft prospects, so Ole Miss edge rusher Cedric Johnson is a 2024 name to watch.
Length, power, speed, high motor. A bit raw, but tools for days. Remember his name, Chicago. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/y7F79zXqcT
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) June 29, 2023
Congrats to Cedric!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
