Tech trio tabbed to Bednarik Award watch list
August 11, 2025 | Football
PHILADELPHIA — The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award on Monday, which included three Red Raiders tabbed as candidates for the award presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
The Texas Tech trio included edge rusher David Bailey, defensive tackle Lee Hunter, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez — all seniors.
Bailey and Hunter arrived this spring via the transfer portal, while Rodriguez is set for his fourth year in the Scarlet and Black. In an article released by ESPN, authored by Max Olsen, Bailey was ranked the most talented defensive player to make a move this offseason in the portal and the No. 9 player overall. Additionally, Hunter was the fourth-highest ranked defensive player and the top defensive tackle to make a move over the offseason. The rankings were based on production, experience, potential, demand, and feedback from coaches and GMs throughout the sport, with analysis from Olsen, Tom Luginbill, Billy Tucker, and Eli Lederman.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez enters 2025 highly established in the Big 12, entering it as the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, as well as already tabbed to national watch lists such as the Butkus Award Watch List and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Hunter was also named to the Nagurski and Outland watch lists, while Bailey has previously been tabbed to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Texas Tech was one of seven schools nationally that had three or more candidates on the Bednarik Award watch list. Georgia led all schools with four, followed by six schools having three players represented (Clemson, Indiana, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas Tech). The full list comprises 90 players, the SEC boasts 23 candidates, followed by the Big Ten (20), ACC (15), and Big 12 (12).
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 11, 2025, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled Nov. 25, 2025. The winner of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11, 2025. The formal presentations of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
ABOUT THE BEDNARIK AWARD
The Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, has been given to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. It is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last "60-minute men" for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence, and leadership on the field—values that the award bearing his name seeks to recognize in today's top defensive players.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts being members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.Â
NCFAAÂ WATCH LISTS
The Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week-plus period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The following is the 2025 preseason watch list calendar and a link to honorees:
– TECH –
The Texas Tech trio included edge rusher David Bailey, defensive tackle Lee Hunter, and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez — all seniors.
Bailey and Hunter arrived this spring via the transfer portal, while Rodriguez is set for his fourth year in the Scarlet and Black. In an article released by ESPN, authored by Max Olsen, Bailey was ranked the most talented defensive player to make a move this offseason in the portal and the No. 9 player overall. Additionally, Hunter was the fourth-highest ranked defensive player and the top defensive tackle to make a move over the offseason. The rankings were based on production, experience, potential, demand, and feedback from coaches and GMs throughout the sport, with analysis from Olsen, Tom Luginbill, Billy Tucker, and Eli Lederman.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez enters 2025 highly established in the Big 12, entering it as the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, as well as already tabbed to national watch lists such as the Butkus Award Watch List and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Hunter was also named to the Nagurski and Outland watch lists, while Bailey has previously been tabbed to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Texas Tech was one of seven schools nationally that had three or more candidates on the Bednarik Award watch list. Georgia led all schools with four, followed by six schools having three players represented (Clemson, Indiana, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas Tech). The full list comprises 90 players, the SEC boasts 23 candidates, followed by the Big Ten (20), ACC (15), and Big 12 (12).
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced November 11, 2025, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled Nov. 25, 2025. The winner of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11, 2025. The formal presentations of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
ABOUT THE BEDNARIK AWARD
The Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, has been given to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. It is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last "60-minute men" for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence, and leadership on the field—values that the award bearing his name seeks to recognize in today's top defensive players.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts being members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.Â
NCFAAÂ WATCH LISTS
The Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week-plus period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The following is the 2025 preseason watch list calendar and a link to honorees:
- Mon., July 28: Maxwell Award
- Tue., July 29: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- Wed., July 30: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award/Butkus Award
- Thu., July 31: Paul Hornung Award/Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
- Fri., Aug. 1: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
- Mon., Aug. 4: Walter Camp Award
- Tue., Aug. 5: Doak Walker Award
- Wed., Aug. 6: Biletnikoff Award
- Thu., Aug. 7: Davey O'Brien Award
- Fri., Aug. 8: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
- Mon., Aug. 11: Bednarik Award
– TECH –
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