Utah Utes linebacker Johnathan Hall has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, per an announcement by the Maxwell Football Club on Friday.
Hall started all 13 games last season, earning Big 12 Honorable Mention. He led the team with 67 tackles (six for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Also, he defended five passes (4 PBU, 1 INT) and had two QB hurries. Set a new career-high with 10 tackles against Texas Tech. Three different games with three tackles, including Weber State, Arizona State and Arizona.
At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Hall is a perfect middle linebacker and is physical. Prior to the 2024 season, he moved closer to the line of scrimmage after starting at safety. Both positions carry the same mentality with a clear need to hit often. He's a better fit at linebacker and is able to swarm the ball on every down. The numbers don't disagree either.
The Katy, Texas, native was a three-star prospect in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports. Hall earned 19-6A District Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-State as a senior. He was also an All-District first-team selection and a Finalist for the Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Hall didn't skip a beat after high school and has yet to miss a game at Utah.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football since 1994. This marks the 32nd year of the award being handed out. It is named after the legendary Hall of Fame center and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, who was also the NFL's last great two-way player. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
In 169 career games, Bednarik had 20 interceptions, 21 fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown.
No Utah player has ever won the Bednarik Award. Only two players from a current Big 12 school have taken home the hardware. Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez won it last year before Colorado's Travis Hunter, who was the best on both sides of the ball during his Heisman campaign in 2024. Half of the players given the award over the past decade have come from an SEC team.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled Nov. 24. The recipient of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11.
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