Georgia football linebacker CJ Allen, cornerback Daylen Everette, safety KJ Bolden, and defensive tackle Christen Miller have each been named to the 2025 Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club has announced.
The Bednarik Award, named after Chuck Bednarik, is an annual award given to the college football defensive player of the year.
Last season, Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks was named a Bednarik Award Semifinalist.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 11, while the three finalists will be unveiled Tuesday, Nov. 25. The winner of the 2025 Bednarik Award will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 11.
CJ Allen, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound junior, hails from Barnesville, Ga. Last season, Allen appeared in all 14 contests, making 12 starts. He ranked second among Bulldog tacklers with 76 total stops.
Daylen Everette, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior from Norfolk, Va., started all 14 games last season. He tallied 58 total tackles for the Bulldogs, including a sack for a loss of 15 yards against Texas. Everette also led the defense with three interceptions, two in the SEC Championship and one at Texas, and tied for most forced fumbles on the season with two.
KJ Bolden, a 6-foot-0, 195-pound sophomore, hails from Buford, Ga. Bolden appeared in all 14 games last season, starting twice, and ranked fifth on the team with 59 total tackles. Among the accolades he received were On3 True Freshman All-America Team honoree, SEC All-Freshman Team selection, FWAA Freshman All-America Team, and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalist.
Christen Miller, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound junior, hails from Ellenwood, Ga. Last season, Miller appeared in 12 contests, making 10 starts. He had 27 total tackles on the season, including 3.5 for a loss of 12 yards, and was also credited with 1.5 sacks for 10 yards lost.
The Georgia Bulldogs are set to open the 2025 season at home against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday, Aug. 30. The game will be televised live by ESPN at 3:30pm ET (Buy Tickets).