University of Tennessee Athletics
Campbell, Redmond Tabbed to Bednarik Award Watch List
August 21, 2026 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Tennessee linebacker Amare Campbell and defensive back Ty Redmond have been named to the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Friday.
A proven playmaker, Campbell has started 27 of his 37 career games and has compiled 193 tackles, including 120 solo stops, 22 tackles for loss totaling 98 yards and 10.5 sacks. He also has recorded three pass breakups, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble during his collegiate career.
Campbell was among the Big Ten's most productive defenders in 2025, helping Penn State to a strong defensive season before transferring to Tennessee and reuniting with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Redmond returns for his sophomore campaign after emerging as one of the SEC's top young defensive backs in 2025. The cornerback enjoyed a standout rookie season, earning Freshman All-America recognition. He appeared in all 13 games last season, making 12 starts, and finished with 43 tackles, including 25 solo stops, one tackle for loss, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups.
Redmond enters 2026 as the SEC's leading returning defender in passes defended with 15 and pass breakups with 12. He also owns the conference's highest returning cornerback PFF coverage grade at 81.6.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple-year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Watch List
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
A proven playmaker, Campbell has started 27 of his 37 career games and has compiled 193 tackles, including 120 solo stops, 22 tackles for loss totaling 98 yards and 10.5 sacks. He also has recorded three pass breakups, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble during his collegiate career.
Campbell was among the Big Ten's most productive defenders in 2025, helping Penn State to a strong defensive season before transferring to Tennessee and reuniting with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Redmond returns for his sophomore campaign after emerging as one of the SEC's top young defensive backs in 2025. The cornerback enjoyed a standout rookie season, earning Freshman All-America recognition. He appeared in all 13 games last season, making 12 starts, and finished with 43 tackles, including 25 solo stops, one tackle for loss, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups.
Redmond enters 2026 as the SEC's leading returning defender in passes defended with 15 and pass breakups with 12. He also owns the conference's highest returning cornerback PFF coverage grade at 81.6.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple-year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh HeupelDodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Watch List
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
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