Two Vols Tabbed To Bednarik Award Watch List
Images: Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
Tennessee’s defense continues to earn widespread recognition leading up to the 2025 season.
On Monday afternoon, The Maxwell Football Club revealed that Vol defensive anchors Arion Carter and Jermod McCoy have been named to the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list, the honor recognizes the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Carter, going into his junior season, led the Volunteers with 68 tackles in 2024, including 6.5 TFLs, six PBUs, and an interception during his sophomore campaign to help solidify a unit that fueled the Vols to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Carter also earned a spot on the Dick Butkus Award watch list, given to the nation’s best linebacker.
McCoy, considered by many experts as one of the top cornerbacks in the country, returns after a breakout sophomore season where he earned first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American honors. He previously transferred from Oregon State after his freshman year.
The Whitehouse, Texas native led UT with four interceptions and topped the Volunteers with thirteen passes defended, ranking in the top five of the SEC.
Suffering an off-season ACL injury in January, McCoy has since returned to the practice field, participating in non-contact, individual drills with hopes of making a full return before The Third Saturday in October.
The three finalists for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award will be revealed on Nov. 25, with the winner set to be crowned at the College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11, on ESPN.
