USC’s Rey (not Ray) Maualuga up for Bednarik award

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USC’s Rey Maualuga is one of three finalists for the Chuck Bednarik award to be presented to the country’s best college defensive player on Dec. 11 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on, you guessed it, ESPNU.

The other defensive nominees are Aaron Maybin of Penn State and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State. I don’t know if this is any kind of sign, but in the news release I received with the nominees listed, Maualuga’s first name was spelled ‘Ray’ instead of ‘Rey.’ If he receives a trophy and it has his name on it, hopefully there is a trophy spellcheck function.

USC is also represented in another defensive category -- the Jim Thorpe Award given to the best defensive back. Taylor Mays (his name is spelled correctly) is up against Eric Berry of Tennessee and Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio State.

All the award nominees can be found here.

-- Diane Pucin