CJ Allen named 2025 Bednarik Award semifinalist

Georgia football linebacker CJ Allen has been named a 2025 Bednarik Award semifinalist, the Maxwell Football Club has announced.

The Maxwell Football Club is proud to announce the semifinalists for the 2025 #BednarikAward ‼️Congratulations to all of the outstanding student athletes! 🏈#MaxwellFootball🏆 pic.twitter.com/PfUSw64jaE

— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) November 11, 2025

The Bednarik Award, named after Chuck Bednarik, is an annual award given to the college football defensive player of the year. The Maxwell Football Club again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners.

Semifinalist voting for the Bednarik Award will begin on Monday, Nov. 17 and will close on Monday, Nov. 24. Three finalists for the award will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 27 and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. The winner of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.

CJ Allen is a 6-foot-1, 235-pound junior from Barnesville, Ga. Allen leads the SEC with 8.3 tackles per game through nine contests. He has amassed 75 total tackles (39 solo, 36 assisted), including six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and has also recorded two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Georgia Bulldogs are next scheduled to host the No. 10 Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. The game will be televised by ABC and streamed via ESPN3 at 7:45pm ET (Buy Tickets).

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