Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders tie for FBS lead with three Bednarik picks
August 21, 2026 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech trio of defensive tackle A.J. Holmes Jr., cornerback Brice Pollock and linebacker Ben Roberts were named to the Bednarik Award watch list, announced Friday by the Maxwell Football Club. The organization has presented the award to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994.
Last year's Bednarik Award winner was Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez, who went on to be a second-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Draft. Rodriguez was the first Texas Tech player to win the Bednarik Award.
In 2026, Texas Tech's trio is tied for the most from any FBS program, matching Alabama, BYU, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Notre Dame and Oklahoma with three selections apiece among the 91 players on the watch list. The SEC (24) was the most represented conference, followed by the Big Ten (19), Big 12 (17) and ACC (12).
Holmes, Pollock and Roberts were also tabbed together for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list on Aug. 4, which similarly honors the National Defensive Player of the Year. This preseason, Holmes has also been named to the Lombardi Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists, Pollock has also been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, and Roberts has also been named to the Butkus Award, Lombardi Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 24. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the Maxwell Football Club's awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Ga.
About the Chuck 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.
NCFAA Preseason Watch Lists Conclude
The Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, is the final of the 16 NCFAA members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period that began Aug. 3, as the association spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. The following are Texas Tech's honorees and the corresponding NCFAA member from the 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Last year's Bednarik Award winner was Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez, who went on to be a second-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Draft. Rodriguez was the first Texas Tech player to win the Bednarik Award.
In 2026, Texas Tech's trio is tied for the most from any FBS program, matching Alabama, BYU, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Notre Dame and Oklahoma with three selections apiece among the 91 players on the watch list. The SEC (24) was the most represented conference, followed by the Big Ten (19), Big 12 (17) and ACC (12).
Holmes, Pollock and Roberts were also tabbed together for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list on Aug. 4, which similarly honors the National Defensive Player of the Year. This preseason, Holmes has also been named to the Lombardi Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists, Pollock has also been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, and Roberts has also been named to the Butkus Award, Lombardi Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 24. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the Maxwell Football Club's awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Ga.
About the Chuck 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.
NCFAA Preseason Watch Lists Conclude
The Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, is the final of the 16 NCFAA members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period that began Aug. 3, as the association spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. The following are Texas Tech's honorees and the corresponding NCFAA member from the 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
- Mon., Aug. 3: Maxwell Award – Cameron Dickey
- Tue., Aug. 4: Outland Award – A.J. Holmes Jr., Howard Sampson, Sheridan Wilson
- Tue., Aug. 4: Bronko Nagurski Trophy – A.J. Holmes Jr., Brice Pollock, Ben Roberts
- Wed., Aug. 5: John Mackey Award – Terrance Carter Jr.
- Thu., Aug. 6: Rimington Trophy – Sheridan Wilson
- Fri., Aug. 7: Lou Groza Award – Stone Harrington
- Mon., Aug. 10: Paul Hornung Award – Kenny Johnson, J'Koby Williams
- Tue., Aug. 11: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy – Ben Roberts
- Wed., Aug. 12: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award – Brice Pollock
- Thu., Aug. 13: Butkus Award – John Curry, Ben Roberts, Austin Romaine
- Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award – None
- Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award – Cameron Dickey
- Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award – Cameron Dickey
- Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award – Terrance Carter Jr.
- Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award – None
- Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award – A.J. Holmes Jr., Brice Pollock, Ben Roberts
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