The Maxwell Football Club has released its watch list for the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award, honoring the top defensive player in college football. Notable candidates include Jordan Bertagnole from Wyoming, BYU's Tyler Batty, Michigan’s trio of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Will Johnson, and Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant. Also on the list are Louisville's Ashton Gillotte and Quincy Riley, Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax, Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher, Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman, and Arkansas’ Landon Jackson. The award, named after NFL legend Chuck Bednarik, highlights players with outstanding defensive performances across various conferences, with semifinalists to be announced on November 12, 2024.