2023 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List For Top Defensive Player

August 14, 2023 by maxwellfootballclub.org

The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch list for the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.

CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a voting member of the Bednarik Award.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

The Bednarik Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, led by 5 returning 2022 semifinalists: Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama), Tyler Davis (Clemson), Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois), Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State) and Jason Henderson (Old Dominion). Clemson and Penn State lead the way with 3 candidates each with an additional 9 schools boasting 2 candidates.

Last year’s Chuck Bednarik Award winner was Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) who went on to be the 1st round selection of the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft. Anderson joined Alabama greats Jonathan Allen (2016) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017) as the third Crimson Tide player to win the award.

2023 Preseason Candidates

(List compiled alphabetically by school)
Trey Taylor, Air Force, Sr., S
Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama, Jr., CB
Dallas Turner, Alabama, Jr., LB
Leo Lowin, Army, Sr., LB
D.J. James, Auburn, Sr., CB
DJ Schramm, Boise State, Sr., LB
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College, Jr., DE
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, Sr., LB
Ben Bywater, BYU, Jr., LB
Jackson Sirmon, Cal, Sr., LB
Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, So., DT
Tyler Davis, Clemson, Sr., DT
Jeremiah Trotter, Clemson, Jr., LB
Barrett Carter, Clemson, Jr., LB
Jack Howell, Colorado State, Jr., S
Jackson Mitchell, Connecticut, Sr., LB
DeWayne Carter, Duke, Sr., DT
Princely Umanmielen, Florida, Jr., DE
Jared Verse, Florida State, Jr., DE
Levelle Bailey, Fresno State, Sr., LB
Javon Bullard, Georgia, Jr., DB
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia, Jr., LB
LaMiles Brooks, Georgia Tech, Jr., S
Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, Jr., DL
Keith Randolph, Illinois, Jr., DL
Andre Carter, Indiana, Sr., DL
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, Jr., CB
T.J. Tampa, Iowa State, Sr., CB
Cobee Bryant, Kansas, Jr., CB
Kobe Savage, Kansas State, Sr., S
J.J. Weaver, Kentucky, Sr., LB
Harold Perkins, LSU, So., LB
Owen Porter, Marshall, Sr., DE
Jaishawn Barham, Maryland, So., LB
Leonard Taylor, Miami, Jr., DT
Kamren Kinchens, Miami, Jr., S
Kris Jenkins, Michigan, Sr., DT
Junior Colson, Michigan, Jr., LB
Cal Haladay, Michigan State, Jr., LB
Tyler Nubin, Minnesota, Sr., S
Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State, Sr., LB
Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri, Sr., LB
Aydan White, NC State, Jr., CB
Payton Wilson, NC State, Sr., LB
Cedric Gray, North Carolina, Sr., LB
Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame, So., CB
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State, Jr., DE
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, Sr., LB
Ethan Downs, Oklahoma, Jr., DE
Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State, Jr., LB
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion, Jr., LB
Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss, Sr., DE
Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, Sr., DE
Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State, Sr., S
Kalen King, Penn State, Jr., CB
Chop Robinson, Penn State, Jr., DE
Abdul Carter, Penn State, So., LB
M.J. Devonshire, Pitt, Sr., CB
Aaron Lewis, Rutgers, Jr., DE
Yam Banks, South Alabama, Jr., S
Jay Stanley, Southern Miss, Sr., S
David Bailey, Stanford, So., LB
Marlowe Wax, Syracuse, Jr., LB
Josh Newton, TCU, Sr., CB
Layton Jordan, Temple, Sr., LB
Aaron Beasley, Tennessee, Sr., LB
Jaylan Ford, Texas, Sr., LB
Jaylon Hutchings, Texas Tech, Sr., DT
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, Jr., CB
Reddy Steward, Troy, Sr., CB
Jarius Monroe, Tulane, Sr., CB
Patrick Jenkins, Tulane, Jr., DT
Fish McWilliams, UAB, Sr., DT
Jason Johnson, UCF, Sr., LB
Laiatu Latu, UCLA, Sr., LB
Calen Bullock, USC, Jr., S
Cole Bishop, Utah, Jr., S
Tyrice Knight, UTEP, Sr., LB
Rashad Wisdom, UTSA, Sr., S
Chico Bennett, Virginia, Sr., DE
Bralen Trice, Washington, Jr., DE
Aubrey Burks, West Virginia, Jr., S
JaQues Evans, Western Kentucky, Jr., LB
Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin, Sr., LB
Easton Gibbs, Wyoming, Jr., LB

Past Winners

2022 - Will Anderson, Jr., Alabama, DE
2021 - Jordan Davis, Georgia, DT
2020 - Zaven Collins, Tulsa, LB
2019 - Chase Young, Ohio State, DL
2018 - Josh Allen, Kentucky, LB
2017 - Minkah FItzpatrick, Alabama, DB
2016 - Jonathan Allen, Alabama, DE
2015 - Tyler Matakevich, Temple, LB
2014 - Scooby Wright, Arizona, LB
2013 - Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, DT
2012 - Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, LB
2011 - Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, CB
2010 - Patrick Peterson, LSU, DB
2009 - Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT
2008 - Rey Maualuga, USC, LB
2007 - Dan Connor, Penn State, LB
2006 - Paul Posluszny, Penn State, LB
2005 - Paul Posluszny, Penn State, LB
2004 - David Pollack, Georgia, DE
2003 - Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma, LB
2002 - E.J. Henderson, Maryland, LB
2001 - Julius Peppers, North Carolina, DE
2000 - Dan Morgan, Miami (FL), LB
1999 - LaVar Arrington, Penn State, LB
1998 - Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M, LB
1997 - Charles Woodson, Michigan, DB
1996 - Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, LB
1995 - Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, LB