Maxwell Hairston, Deone Walker on preseason Bednarik Award Watch List

Two Kentucky standouts have been named to the preseason Bednarik Award Watch List.

Two Kentucky standouts were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List on Monday: defensive tackle Deone Walker and cornerback Maxwell Hairston.

As a sophomore in 2023, Walker had 55 tackles and led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss to go with seven sacks and eight quarterback hurries.

The Bednarik Award is the fourth preseason award watch list that Walker has been named to. He was also named to the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy (presented to the nation’s best interior lineman).

For his part, Hairston returns for his junior season after totaling five interceptions in 2023, good for fifth in the nation. In the Wildcats’ 45-28 victory over Vanderbilt on Sept. 23, Hairston had two interception returns for touchdowns.

Hairston has also been named to the preseason watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994. It is named in honor of the late College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker.

NC State’s Payton Wilson Jr. won the Bednarik Award last season.

Kentucky opens the 2024 season at Kroger Field against Southern Miss, Aug. 31 at 7:45 p.m. ET . The game can be seen on SEC Network.