Syracuse University senior defensive end James Wyche is a 2005 pre-season Chuck Bednarik Award candidate. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year.
A 2004 second-team All-BIG EAST selection, Wyche led the Orange defensive lineman with 68 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He recorded 15.0 tackles for a loss, the fifth-highest mark by an SU player. His 5.7 tackles per game ranked first in the BIG EAST among down lineman. Wyche also recovered one fumble and blocked one kick last season.
Wyche ranks eighth on SU's all-time tackles by a down lineman list with 145. He is also seventh on SU's all-time tackles for a loss list with 23.5 for a loss of 94 yards.
Wyche is one of 50 student-athletes on the Bednarik Award Watch List. The BIG EAST Conference has three representatives on the list. Joining Wyche are linebacker H.B. Blades from Pittsburgh and linebacker James Hargrave from Connecticut.
Ten semi-finalists will be announced for the award in October and the field will be trimmed to three finalists in November. The winner of the Bednarik Award will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show that will be broadcast by ESPN in December.
Wyche is also a 2005 Lombardi Award Candidate, presented to the top lineman, and an All-America Candidate.
Wyche and the Orange open the 2005 season on Sunday, September 4 against West Virginia. The game kicks off at 1:30 and will be televised nationally on ABC. Season tickets are available online (
click here) or at the Carrier Dome Box Office (1-888-DOMETIX).