Gophers senior cornerbacks Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun were among 80 players named to watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Boddy-Calhoun, of Wilmington, Del., had 51 tackles and five interceptions for the Gophers last season, earning All-Big Ten first-team honors by the media and and a second-team designation by the conference coaches.
Murray, of Milwaukee, had 69 tackles and one interception in 2014 and earned Big Ten second-team honors from coaches, honorable mention by the media.
Former Gophers and current Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman was the last Minnesota player on the Bednarik Award watch list in 2013.