Jackson Jr. And Little Jr. Named to Bednarik Preseason Watch List
8/21/2026 12:52:00 PM | Football
This marks the third national watch list for defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and the second for safety Earl Little Jr.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Ohio State defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. And safety Earl Little Jr. were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club Friday afternoon.
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.
This marks the third national watch list for defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and the second for safety Earl Little Jr. Jackson Jr. was also named to the Lott IMPACT Watch List and Nagurski Watch List while Little Jr. was placed on the Thorpe Watch List.
Jackson finished the 2025 season second on the team with 11.0 tackles for loss and second on the team with 6.5 sacks, helping earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Against Penn State in November, Jackson recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. Additionally, he played some of his best football down the stretch recording a sack in the win at No. 15 Michigan and got another sack in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 2 Indiana.
Little Jr. joined Ohio State after playing two seasons at Florida State and two seasons Alabama. In his last year with the Seminoles, Little Jr. recorded 76 tackles, four interceptions for 83 yards, two forced fumbles, 2.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups in 12 games, starting in 11. He ended the regular season ranked fourth in the ACC and 16th nationally for total interceptions and had the most interceptions for a Seminole since 2021.
Last season, the Buckeye's defense was ranked number one in the country, with safety Caleb Downs being a leader on that defense. This helped Downs earn the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award and become the third recipient of the award from Ohio State.
Bednarik Award Process
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the 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.
Ohio State Preseason Honors
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.
This marks the third national watch list for defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and the second for safety Earl Little Jr. Jackson Jr. was also named to the Lott IMPACT Watch List and Nagurski Watch List while Little Jr. was placed on the Thorpe Watch List.
Jackson finished the 2025 season second on the team with 11.0 tackles for loss and second on the team with 6.5 sacks, helping earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Against Penn State in November, Jackson recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. Additionally, he played some of his best football down the stretch recording a sack in the win at No. 15 Michigan and got another sack in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 2 Indiana.
Little Jr. joined Ohio State after playing two seasons at Florida State and two seasons Alabama. In his last year with the Seminoles, Little Jr. recorded 76 tackles, four interceptions for 83 yards, two forced fumbles, 2.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups in 12 games, starting in 11. He ended the regular season ranked fourth in the ACC and 16th nationally for total interceptions and had the most interceptions for a Seminole since 2021.
Last season, the Buckeye's defense was ranked number one in the country, with safety Caleb Downs being a leader on that defense. This helped Downs earn the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award and become the third recipient of the award from Ohio State.
Bednarik Award Process
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the 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.
Ohio State Preseason Honors
- Phil Steele:
- Six Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
- Athlon Sports:
- Seven Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
- Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List:
- AFCA Good Works Nominees:
- Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000
- Ohio State football had 19 players selected to the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000. The list includes a representative from almost every position room at Ohio State including five defensive lineman, four offensive linemen, three safeties and three wide receivers.
- Big Ten Preseason Honors List:
- Maxwell Preseason Watch List:
- Mannelly Preseason Watch List:
- Outland Trophy Watch List:
- Nagurski Watch List:
- Mackey Award Watch List:
- Sporting News Preseason All-Americans:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was placed on the first time while offensive linemen Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld were listed on the second team.
- Rimington Trophy Watch List:
- Lou Groza Watch List:
- Hornung Award Watch List:
- On3 Preseason All-Americans:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was placed on the first time while offensive linemen Luke Montgomery was listed on the second team and Austin Siereveld was placed on the third team.
- Wuerffel Trophy Watch List:
- Lombardi Award Watch List:
- Thrope Award Watch List:
- ESPN Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin were both named to the first team ahead of the 2026 season.
- Walter Camp Watch List:
- Doak Walker Watch List:
- CBS Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery were both named to the first team ahead of the 2026 season.
- AP Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was named a first team selection and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery was placed on the second team ahead of the 2026 season.
- Biletnikoff Watch List:
- Unitas Golden Arm Watch List:
- Senior Bowl 300
- Ohio State had 16 players selected to the Senior Bowl 300, the most of any school. Four different position rooms had three or more selections to the Senior Bowl 300.
- Polynesian Player of the Year:
- O'Brien Watch List:
Players Mentioned
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