Football Places Three Players on Bednarik Award Watch List
8/21/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
The trio are among 91 candidates for college football’s defensive player of the year award
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama football placed three players on the 2026 Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Friday.
Zabien Brown, Bray Hubbard and Yhonzae Pierre helped make up a list of 91 players from around the country selected to the preseason list. Alabama has produced three Bednarik winners in program history, including Jonathan Allen (2016), Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017) and Will Anderson Jr. (2022).
Zabien Brown
Defensive Back, Junior
- A two-year standout at cornerback for the Crimson Tide
- Played in and started all 15 games as a sophomore
- Totaled 39 tackles, including 2.5 for loss (-4 yards), to go with a team-high tying six pass breakups and a forced fumble last season
- Added two pick-sixes of 99 and 50 yards in 2025, the first Alabama player to notch a pair of interception returns since 2021 and the first true corner to do so since 1992
Bray Hubbard
Defensive Back, Senior
- A leader for the Alabama defense and one of the top safeties in college football
- Earned All-America and All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior
- Tied for the SEC lead and paced UA with four interceptions last season
- Also ranked third on the defense with 79 total tackles, including 4.5 for loss (-23 yards) and two sacks (-20 yards)
- Added a team-high tying six pass breakups to go with three forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry in '25
Yhonzae Pierre
Linebacker, Senior
- Blossomed into the Crimson Tide's top pass-rusher a season ago
- Worked in all 15 contests as a junior, including starting the final 12 games of the year
- Recorded 52 tackles, including a team-leading 14.5 for loss (-102 yards), and a team-high eight sacks (-81 yards), in 2025
- Also led UA with nine quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles last season
Established in 1995, the Bednarik Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. The award is named in tribute to Chuck Bednarik, a revered figure in football history known for his remarkable career as a linebacker. Semifinalists 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.
