Fifteen ACC Defensive Standouts Earn Spots on 2025 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference continues to showcase its defensive excellence, with 15 of its premier gamers incomes a spot on the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, introduced right now by the Maxwell Football Club.
 
Presented yearly since 1995, the Bednarik Award honors essentially the most excellent defensive participant in faculty soccer.
 
It is known as in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and middle who performed his whole profession with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of many final “60-minute men” for enjoying each offense and protection, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence and management on the sphere—values that the award bearing his identify seeks to acknowledge in right now’s high defensive gamers.
 
This yr’s watch listing options 90 standout defenders representing a variety of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) applications and conferences from coast to coast. Clemson leads the ACC contingent and is certainly one of simply seven colleges nationally with three or extra gamers named to the listing. Duke, Miami, NC State and Pitt every earned two alternatives, whereas California, Florida State, Georgia Tech and SMU have been every represented by one participant.
 
ACC Players Named to the 2025 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
Name, School, Class, Position
Cade Uluave, California, Junior, Linebacker
T.J. Parker, Clemson, Junior, Defensive End
Avieon Terrell, Clemson, Junior, Cornerback
Peter Woods, Clemson, Junior, Defensive Tackle
Terry Moore, Duke, Senior, Safety
Chandler Rivers, Duke, Senior, Cornerback
Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State, Senior, Defensive Tackle
Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech, Junior, Linebacker
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, Junior, Defensive End
OJ Frederique Jr., Miami, Sophomore, Cornerback
Sean Brown, NC State, Senior, Linebacker
Caden Fordham, NC State, Senior, Linebacker
Rasheem Biles, Pitt, Junior, Linebacker
Kyle Louis, Pitt, Junior, Linebacker
Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU, Senior, Safety
 
The Maxwell Football Club has as soon as once more partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as choice committee companions. PFF offers detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to the choice committee employees, with a number of senior PFF analysts serving as members of our choice committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is usually acknowledged as essentially the most full preseason journal.
 
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will likely be introduced on November 11, 2025, and the three finalists for the award will likely be unveiled on November 25, 2025. The winner of the thirty first Bednarik Award will likely be introduced as a part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11, 2025. The formal shows of the Bednarik Award will likely be made on the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
The Bednarik Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses faculty soccer’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored greater than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for extra info.