PHILADELPHIA – East Carolina senior inside linebacker Zeek Bigger is one of 80 players named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, according to an announcement by the Maxwell Football Club Tuesday.

A preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele Magazine and Sporting News, Bigger is the first Pirate to be named to the Bednarik Watch List, which is given annually to the College Defensive-Player-of-the-Year.

Bigger, who earned Second-Team All-AAC honors as a junior, led the American Conference and ranked ninth nationally with 10.8 tackles per game. The Gastonia, N.C. native registered a team and league-high 140 tackles and recorded double-digit stops on eight occasions, including a career-best 17 against in-state foe North Carolina. He also returned an interception 46 yards for a score against the Tar Heels helping him earn Walter Camp National Defensive-Player-of-the-Week honors.

During his three-year career, Bigger has tallied 235 stops (113 solo) with 8.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, nine pass breakups and five quarterback hurries to go along with three interceptions. He has started 23 of 39 career games, including all 13 a year ago, and has recorded multiple tackles on 30 occasions.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive-Player-of-the-Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 2, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 23. The winner will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 10 with a formal presentation made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2016.

The Pirates will open the 2015 season at home against Towson inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Sept. 6 with a 6 p.m. (ET) scheduled kickoff.

It’s week 4 of the 2012 high school football season and fans and teams are looking forward to Friday night. We’re changing things up this year and highlighting the top ten games to see each week. If you can’t make it to one of these games this Friday, be sure to go out and support your local team.

Carolina Gridiron Top Ten Games of the Week

10. Kinston at Havelock

2011 2AA runner-up Kinston travels to take on defending 3A champion Havelock in matchup of two teams with high scoring offenses.

9. South Columbus at Hoggard

2A title contender Stallions travel to take on 4A Vikings, which have won its first three games by an average of 33 points.

8. East Forsyth at Reynolds, R.J.

Ranked #1 in the 2012 inaugural FAIR Rankings, East Forsyth (who only gives up five points a game) travels to cross-county Reynolds with each team seeking its first 4-0 record in years.

7. Ashbrook at Charlotte Catholic

After a close loss in the inaugural Patriotic Bowl against Charlotte Country Day, Catholic looks to rebound against Ashbrook, who is coming off a bye week and looking for a third straight win to start the season.

6. Ragsdale at Page

Defending 4AA Page is 0-3 and looking anywhere for a win after coming so close in overtime last week against High Point Central.  Ragsdale is 3-0, averaging 29 points a game and looking to avenge last year’s 35-14 loss to the Pirates.

5. Statesville at North Davidson

North Davidson has won its first three games by an average of 27 points and is looking to its defense to stop a Statesville team who can move the ball on the ground with ease.

4. Garner at Middle Creek

After a big win last week, Middle Creek has risen to the #2 spot in the Carolina Gridiron Power Rankings.  This week, the Mustangs host Garner, who dazzled Triangle football fans last year with a run all the way to the state 4AA title game.

3. Franklin at Swain County

1A Swain County, a perennial state title contender, looks to improve their record to 4-0 with a win over 3A Franklin, who is looking to rebound from last Friday’s tough loss to T.C. Roberson.

2. Butler at Vance

The Butler Bulldogs are looking to return to their status as the top 4A team in the state.  A win over Mallard Creek in week 1 followed up with a 69 point effort in their last game have vaulted Butler to the top of the Carolina Gridiron Power Rankings.  Vance is coming off a dominating 35-0 win over Independence and doesn’t mind playing the role of giant killer, having done so on many occasions before.  The Cougars look to become the top team in Charlotte, and a win over Butler on Saturday night would certainly put them on the path to make that happen.

1. Porter Ridge at Brown, A.L.

Porter Ridge has obliterated county rivals Monroe, Piedmont, and Forest Hills in the first three weeks of the season, outscoring them 131-26.  Now, the Pirates, coming off a trip to the 4A state title game last year, face what could be their toughest test of the year.  A.L. Brown is playing dominant football this year, opening the season with a 44-0 victory at Shelby, winning 62-6 over rival South Rowan, and taking down 4A Rocky River 38-21 last week.  The Wonders can move the ball on offense, averaging 44 points a week while their defense has only allowed nine points a game.  This game is also a homecoming for Porter Ridge coach Blair Hardin, who played at A.L. Brown, winning a state title in 1997.