Three Bulldogs named to 2026 Bednarik Award Watch List

Georgia football linebacker Raylen Wilson, cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, and safety KJ Bolden have each been named to the 2026 Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club has announced.

2026 CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST REVEALED 📷

The Maxwell Football Club has officially released its preseason Watch List for the Chuck Bednarik Award—college football’s premier honor presented annually to the Defensive Player of the Year!

Named in honor of Chuck "Concrete… pic.twitter.com/WBkaLcBwnE

— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) August 21, 2026

The Bednarik Award, named after Chuck Bednarik, is an annual award given to the college football defensive player of the year.

Last season, Georgia linebacker CJ Allen was named a Bednarik Award Semifinalist.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 10 before being narrowed down to three finalists on Nov. 24. The winner of the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award will then be announced on Dec. 10 as part of ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Raylen Wilson, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from Tallahassee, Fla., started all 14 games in 2025. Wilson tallied 74 tackles (30 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss for 22 yards, 2.5 sacks for 19 yards, one pass break-up, and 23 quarterback pressures.

Ellis Robinson is a 6-foot-0, 180-pound redshirt sophomore from New Haven, Conn. Robinson played in all 14 games last season, starting 12, tallying 20 tackles (13 solo), half a tackle for loss for a yard, and seven pass break-ups. He was selected the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the FWAA and The Athletic Freshman All-America First Teams.

KJ Bolden, a 6-foot-0, 195-pound junior, hails from Buford, Ga. Bolden started in all 14 games last season, recording 76 tackles (32 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss for five yards, two interceptions, and five pass break-ups. Bolden was named to the Coaches All-SEC Second Team following the season.

The back-to-back SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs are scheduled to open the 2026 season on Saturday, September 5 against the Tennessee State Tigers at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. The game will kickoff at 3:00pm ET and will be a streaming-only event on SEC Network+ (Buy Tickets).

UGA Football Schedule

Ellis Robinson IV, Raylen Wilson, and KJ Bolden have been named to the Bednarik Award Preseason Watchlist! @MaxwellFootball pic.twitter.com/qNjaC6Y2HU

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) August 21, 2026