Johnson Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
8/21/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Prestigious watch list joins growing list of recognition for the safety
PHILADELPHIA – Recognizing the most outstanding defensive players in college football, the Maxwell Football Club announced the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which included TCU senior Jamel Johnson.
The Bednarik Award watch list once again incorporates a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast and features 17 Big 12 players including Johnson.
As a junior in 2025 the Arlington native was a key piece of the TCU defense, playing and starting every game at safety. He totaled 96 tackles and had five interceptions, which tied for the most in the Big 12 last season.
His strong season last year built off his successful sophomore campaign, where he had the third most tackles on the Frog squad with 73.
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.
TCU PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Jaheim Buchanon - Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team
John Hoyet Chance - Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-America Team, Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team, Ray Guy Award Watch List
Jaden Craig – Senior Bowl Top 300 List
Ansel Din-Mbuh - Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Outland Trophy Watch List, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Jordan Dwyer - Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team, Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Jamel Johnson - Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Ben Taylor-Whitfield - Outland Trophy Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-America Team, Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team
The Bednarik Award watch list once again incorporates a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast and features 17 Big 12 players including Johnson.
As a junior in 2025 the Arlington native was a key piece of the TCU defense, playing and starting every game at safety. He totaled 96 tackles and had five interceptions, which tied for the most in the Big 12 last season.
His strong season last year built off his successful sophomore campaign, where he had the third most tackles on the Frog squad with 73.
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.
TCU PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Jaheim Buchanon - Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team
John Hoyet Chance - Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-America Team, Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team, Ray Guy Award Watch List
Jaden Craig – Senior Bowl Top 300 List
Ansel Din-Mbuh - Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Outland Trophy Watch List, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Jordan Dwyer - Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team, Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Jamel Johnson - Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Ben Taylor-Whitfield - Outland Trophy Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-America Team, Sports Info Solutions Preseason All-Big 12 First Team
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, August 18
Saturday, August 15
Friday, August 07
