Aug 124 min read

The 2024 Bednarik Award Watch List: 1-10

The Maxwell Football Club presents the Bednarik Award to the best defensive player in college football. It was first presented in 1995 and is named after famed Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik, who played from 1949-62 and was a two-time NFL champion, and was named an All-Pro 10 times.

As the last player in pro football to play both offense and defense for his team full-time, Bednarik is a Hall of Famer at both the college and pro levels.

Here are 10 players that have been named to the 2024 Bednarik Award Watch List by the Maxwell Football Club.

Harold Perkins Jr., Linebacker, LSU Tigers

In 2023, Perkins was fourth on the team in tackles with 75 stops and led the Tigers in tackles for loss with 13 and in sacks with 5.5. For his efforts, Perkins was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection. In addition, Perkins was named a 2024 first-team preseason All-SEC selection and a second-team Walter Camp All-American.

CJ Taylor, Linebacker, Vanderbilt Commodores

Last season, Taylor was third on the team with 55 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. In addition, Taylor recorded 2 INTs, 3 sacks, 3 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. Over the last two seasons with the Commodores, Taylor recorded 114 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 3 INTs and 2 fumble returns for touchdowns.

Landon Jackson, Defensive End, Arkansas Razorbacks

At 6-foot-7, Jackson presents an imposing disruption to opponents’ offensive schemes. Jackson posted 44 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season, earning first-team All-SEC honors. This preseason, Jackson was named a second-team All-SEC selection and a Walter Camp All-American.

Deone Walker, Defensive Tackle, Kentucky Wildcats

Walker led the Wildcats last season with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to go with 55 tackles. Going into this season, Walker was named a 2024 preseason first-team All-SEC selection and a second-team Walter Camp All-American.

College Football Dawgs and Maxwell Football Club Forge Partnership

Jahdae Barron, Defensive Back, Texas Longhorns

A second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2023, Barron was third on the Longhorns in tackles with 60 stops. In addition, he recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups, 1 INT and had two games with double-digit tackles. Barron was named to the 2024 preseason All-SEC second team.

Nic Scourton, Defensive End, Texas A&M Aggies

A native of Bryan, Texas, Scourton arrives in Aggieland as a transfer from Purdue. Scourton was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection after recording 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and led the conference in sacks with 10. This preseason, Scourton was named to the second-team All-SEC team as voted on by the media after SEC Media Days.

Maxwell Hairston, Cornerback, Kentucky Wildcats

Last season, Hairston was third on the team in tackles with 68 stops. In addition, Hairston made 5 INTs (and returned two for touchdowns) and had 6 pass breakups. In a 45-28 win over Vanderbilt, Hairston recorded 4 tackles, 3 pass breakups and returned the 2 INTs for TDs. As a result, Hairston was a second-team All-SEC selection. For 2024, Hairston was named to the preseason first-team All-SEC team.

Shemar James, Linebacker, Florida Gators

James recorded 54 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack in 2023. In a Week 1 loss to Utah, James made 13 tackles. However, James missed the final four games of the season. James’s 54 tackles were the second-most on the team.

Shemar Turner, Defensive Tackle, Texas A&M Aggies

In 2023, Turner was third on the team in tackles for loss with 10.5, along with 33 tackles and 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 blocked kicks. For his efforts, Turner was named second-team All-SEC. Going into this season, Turner was named preseason All-SEC and will help lead a defensive unit that returns nine starters for the Aggies.

Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss Rebels

A transfer from Florida and second-team All-SEC selection in 2023, Umanmielen recorded 39 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss (led team), 7 sacks (led team) and 17 quarterback hurries. This preseason, he was named third-team All-SEC. Umanmielen will be an immediate upgrade to the Rebels defensive line, who also landed defensive lineman Walter Nolen (Texas A&M) from the Transfer Portal.

The Bednarik Award

There have been two players in history that have won the Bednarik Award twice:

Paul Posluzny of Penn State (2005-2006)
Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern (1995-1996)

The 2023 winner was linebacker Payton Wilson of North Carolina State. Wilson, who had 36 starts for the Wolfpack, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year after recording 138 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups and 3 INTs.

The Maxwell Football Club is the premier national organization that promotes excellence in football at the high school, college and pro levels.

Check out who else made the Bednarik Award Watch List!

Also, check out who is on the Maxwell Award Watch List!

This article is brought to you by the Maxwell Football Club, home of the prestigious Maxwell & Chuck Bednarik Awards. Become a member of the Maxwell Football Club and gain the exclusive privilege of voting for these and other nationally-recognized awards.

With over 75 years of honoring football’s finest, the Maxwell Football Club offers you the unique opportunity to help recognize top talent from high school to the professional level. By joining, you’ll be part of a tradition that celebrates excellence and helps shape the game's future.

Tua Tagovailoa Accepting Maxwell Award — Credit: Maxwell Football Club

Be part of the excitement at the Maxwell Football Awards Gala held in March 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. At the Gala, you will experience the official presentation of the awards. Don’t miss your chance to contribute to football history. Become a member TODAY by visiting https://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/jointheclub.