FLORIDA FOOTBALL: Princely Umanmielen Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Gators defensive end Princely Umanmielen was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List which was announced on Monday.

Princely Umanmielen during Florida's scrimmage. Photo courtesy Chris M. Spears/GatorBaitMedia.com

Umanmielen has garnered a lot of hype ahead of the 2023 season, which many expect to be the junior's breakout year. The Gators front seven lost quite a bit of talent, but the 6-foot-5, 254 lbs should fill at least some of those voids nicely.

The list includes 85 players, but just 12 defensive ends. Umanmielen joins Ole Miss' Cedric Johnson as the only other SEC defensive end on the list. The SEC had 12 players named to the watch list.

In addition to the Bednarik Award watch list, Umanmielen was named to the All-SEC Preseason Third Team at SEC Media Days.

Umanmielen led the team with sacks (4.5) and tackles for a loss (9.5) last year in 13 games. He started 11 of those games, collecting a total of 39 total tackles and two forced fumbles.

The Manor (Tx.) native was in the headlines earlier this summer after it was announced that he would wear the (formerly) coveted No. 1 jersey. In the past, Florida coaches have made a big deal about No. 1, stating that it was something that needed to be earned.

However, along with the announcement of number changes was a comment from Napier emphasizing that it is just like any other number. Regardless, Umanmielen joins Pearsall with the No. 1 jersey.

Umanmielen is the fifth Florida football player named to an award watch list ahead of the 2023 season. Ricky Pearsall (Maxwell Award), Jeremy Crawshaw (Ray Guy Award), Derek Wingo (Wuerffel Trophy) and Trevor Etienne (Paul Hornung Award) were all named to award watch lists as well.