Te'o wins Bednarik Award

Published Dec. 6, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o has won the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player.

Te'o was presented with the award Thursday night at the Home Depot College Football Awards show at Disney World. He beat out finalists Jadeveon Clowney from South Carolina and Georgia's Jarvis Jones.

The leader of the nation's top-ranked scoring defense, the senior had 103 tackles and seven interceptions this season. He is the first linebacker to win the Bednarik since 2008.

It's the fifth national award Te'o has received since the end of the regular season. He already has won the Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Walter Camp national player of the year award.

The Fighting Irish play Alabama on Jan. 7 in the BCS national championship game.