Latest news with #ChuckBednarik
NBC Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
20 Navy All-Americans Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Earlier this week the Maxwell Football Club released the watchlist for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik award, presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football. Check out the 2025 #BednarikAward Watch List!!! 👀 🏈 #MaxwellFootball 🔗 20 Navy All-Americans were named to the watch list. Deontae Lawson (Alabama) Xavion Alford (Arizona State) Xavian Sorey (Arkansas) Keldric Faulk (Auburn) TJ Parker (Clemson) Tyreak Sapp (Florida) CJ Allen (Georgia) KJ Bolden (Georgia) Christen Miller (Georgia) Aaron Graves (Iowa) Whit Weeks (LSU) Koi Perich (Minnesota) Drayk Bowen (Notre Dame) Caleb Downs (Ohio State) Matayo Uiagalelei (Oregon) AJ Harris (Penn State) Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State) Arion Carter (Tennessee) Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) David Bailey (Texas Tech) Only 100 football players receive the honor of wearing the Navy All-American Bowl jersey each year. The 2026 Navy All-American Bowl from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be presented live on NBC and Peacock. About the All-American Bowl As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the Premier League, and primetime's #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Pair of Florida Gators named to 2025 Bednarik Award preseason watch list
The Maxwell Football Club recently released its preseason watch list for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award, which included a pair of Florida football players. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks, along with edge defender Tyreak Sapp, were both named to the prestigious projection of college football's most outstanding defensive players. Last year, Banks played in 12 games — starting in 10 — totalling 21 tackles, 10 of which were solo tackles and seven tackles-for-loss, while also recording 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and recovered one fumble. So far this preseason, he has also earned a mention on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Sapp played in all 13 games with nine starts in 2024, leading the team with seven sacks, 13 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles while also earning the highest PFF grade among all qualified Florida players with 90.4 — ranking him eighth highest among all FBS edge rushers and fifth highest among all SEC edge rushers. That was the highest ranking of any Florida defender since Jonathan Greenard in 2019, who posted a PFF ranking of 90.5. About the Bednarik Award Established in 1995, the Chuck Bednarik Award is a prestigious honor in college football, awarded annually to the most outstanding defensive player. This accolade recognizes exceptional talent, tenacity, and impact on the defensive side of the game. The award is named in tribute to Chuck Bednarik, a revered figure in football history known for his remarkable career as a linebacker. Chuck Bednarik, a legendary player for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 to 1962, is celebrated for his distinctive contributions to the sport. Renowned for his versatility, Bednarik was the last player in NFL history to play both offense and defense full-time. His remarkable career includes two NFL Championships and ten First-Team All-Pro selections, underscoring his dominance and versatility on the field. Bednarik's legacy is further cemented by his enshrinement in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
