Walker Earns Spot on Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
8/21/2026 12:02:00 PM | Football
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Ohio safety DJ Walker was named to the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club Friday (Aug. 21). The award is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Walker (Aliquippa, Pa.) is the lone representative from the Mid-American Conference on the 2026 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, earning recognition among the nation's top defensive players.
Walker enters the 2026 season following a standout 2025 campaign in which he served as a team captain and started all 13 games for the Bobcats. He anchored the Ohio secondary with 61 tackles, including 37 solo stops and six tackles for loss, while adding two interceptions and a pass breakup.
The 2026 watch list features 112 student-athletes from across the Football Bowl Subdivision, representing 10 conferences. Walker is one of a select group of Group of 5 players recognized on this year's watch list.
The Chuck 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, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania and a longtime All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Semifinalists for the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, with the three finalists unveiled Nov. 24. The winner will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.
For more information on the Chuck Bednarik Award, visit the Maxwell Football Club.Â
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