PHILADELPHIA – The Maxwell Football Club announced Monday that Tennessee football standouts Arion Carter and Jermod McCoy were named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
The Bednarik Award watch list features 90 players, including 23 individuals from the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee is one of 23 FBS programs in the country with multiple selections featured.
Carter returns for his junior season after starting all 13 games at linebacker in 2024 and leading UT with 68 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss. The in-state product also had six pass breakups and an interception to go along with three quarterback hurries as a sophomore to help lead the Big Orange to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
After representing the Vols at SEC Media Days in mid-July, Carter was chosen by the media as a third team preseason All-SEC selection. He also garnered All-SEC second team preseason acclaim from Athlon Sports and was one of 18 SEC linebackers named on the Butkus Award preseason watch list.
McCoy enters the year widely regarded as one of the nation’s top corners after earning first team All-SEC recognition as well as second team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated last season. He finished third on the team with 44 total tackles and led the team with 13 passes defended, which ranked fourth in the conference. He also tied for the team lead with four interceptions in 2024, two of which occurred in the end zone and prevented touchdowns.
Entering this season, McCoy had already been recognized as a first-team preseason All-American by multiple outlets and was named an All-SEC preseason first-team selection by the media after being tabbed a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2024.
Semifinalists for the 2025 Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 11, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 25. 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. The formal presentation of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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.
2025 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
DeSean Bishop, RB, R-So.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Arion Carter, LB, Jr.
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
Second Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Third Team All-SEC (Media)
Boo Carter, DB, So.
Third Team All-SEC (Media)
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Third Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Rickey Gibson III, DB, Jr.
Third Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Max Gilbert, PK, R-So.
Lou Groza Award Watch List
Lance Heard, OL, Jr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Joshua Josephs, DL, Sr.
Second Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Miles Kitselman, TE, R-Sr.
Mackey Award Watch List
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Jermod McCoy, DB, Jr.
Bednarik Award Watch List
Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
First Team All-American (Athlon, PFF, Sporting News, Walter Camp)
First Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media)
Jackson Ross, P, R-Jr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Star Thomas, RB, Sr.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
