ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia junior outside linebacker Jarvis Jones has been named one of 16 semifinalists for both the Maxwell Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award, according to a joint release on Monday.
The 6-3, 241-pound native of Columbus is one of four players from the Southeastern Conference included on the Maxwell list, which is given to the collegiate player of the year. There are a total of eight SEC players on the Bednarik list, which is given to the nation's outstanding defensive player of the year.
This marks the first time Jones has been a semifinalist for either award.
In his second season with the Bulldogs, Jones is third on the team with 49 tackles and leads the defense with 14.0 tackles for loss of 84 yards and 8.5 sacks. He has also grabbed his first career interception this season and has registered five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in just six games played (he was injured versus Kentucky and Florida Atlantic).
Jones has been named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and the SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season for his performances at Missouri and versus #3 Florida. Against the Tigers, Jones picked up nine tackles, including two sacks, forced two fumbles and had five quarterback pressures to pace Georgia's defense during the team's 41-20 rout of Missouri.
Last week against the Gators, Jones erupted for a career-high 13 tackles (12 solo), including 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, to go along with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during the 17-9 upset. Jones anchored a defense that held Florida to no touchdowns and that forced six turnovers.
Jones leads the NCAA FBS with an average of 1.1 sacks per game thanks to 22 sacks in 20 games for the Bulldogs over the last two years. The 2011 Butkus Award finalist played the 2009 season at USC before transferring to Georgia.
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