Hall Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
8/21/2026 9:58 AM | Football
Award is presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year
PHILADELPHIA — Utah senior linebacker Johnathan Hall has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Friday.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football since 1994 and will be awarded for the 32nd time in 2026.
Hall has played in 38 games at Utah with 17 starts since joining the Utes in 2023. He started all 13 games at linebacker in 2025 on the way to being named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. He led the team with 67 tackles (6.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and 10.5 third down stops.
The Katy, Texas, native also defended five passes (4 PBU, 1 INT) and had two QB hurries. Hall set a new career-high with 10 tackles against Texas Tech and racked up nine tackles and a breakup during the comeback win over K-State.
Hall played in all 12 games in 2024 with three starts at linebacker after making the move from safety in the offseason. He recorded 38 tackles (9.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) on the season, along with four passes defended (3 PBU, 1 INT)
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.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football since 1994 and will be awarded for the 32nd time in 2026.
Hall has played in 38 games at Utah with 17 starts since joining the Utes in 2023. He started all 13 games at linebacker in 2025 on the way to being named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. He led the team with 67 tackles (6.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and 10.5 third down stops.
The Katy, Texas, native also defended five passes (4 PBU, 1 INT) and had two QB hurries. Hall set a new career-high with 10 tackles against Texas Tech and racked up nine tackles and a breakup during the comeback win over K-State.
Hall played in all 12 games in 2024 with three starts at linebacker after making the move from safety in the offseason. He recorded 38 tackles (9.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) on the season, along with four passes defended (3 PBU, 1 INT)
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.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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