For the 3rd year in a row, James has been named a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the country’s best defensive player.

The other 2 finalists were Rey Maualuga (LB, USC) and Aaron Maybin (DE, PSU).

For more information, visit ESPN’s College Football Awards website. The winner will be announced during a live show on December 11 in Orlando.

Fellow team captain, Malcolm Jenkins, will also make the trip to Orlando as he is a newly announced finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

In other news, Ohio State remains #10 in all the major polls, including the BCS. Also, the Big Ten Network will air the “All Conference Football Selection Show” tonight at 7:30 PM (ET) where the players named to the various all-conference teams will be named, along with other awards.