Sterling Weatherford, an incoming redshirt junior for the Miami University football team, has been named to the watch lists for two prestigious college football awards.
Last week, Weatherford was placed on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, an annual award given to the outstanding defensive player in college football. The Maxwell Football Club has been presenting the award since 1995, said a July 13 article on the Miami RedHawks website.
One week later, Weatherford and Miami teammate Emmanual Rugamba were both named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented to the top defensive back. A July 20 article on the RedHawks website said the list “is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players.” A screening committee will monitor the players and cut the field to 10 to 15 players by the first week of November, with the three finalists to be revealed on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Weatherford, a Hamilton Heights graduate, had a solid season during his junior year, in which he started in all 14 games. Weatherford had 98 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, two sacks, one interception, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Weatherford had two games during the season where he reached the 10-tackle mark.
The RedHawks finished last year 8-6, but not before winning the Mid-American Conference championship over Central Michigan. Weatherford had seven tackles and three pass breakups in that game, which qualified Miami to play in the LendingTree Bowl.