Chambana Sun

Two University of Illinois football players, outside linebacker Gabe Jacas and defensive back Xavier Scott, have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award. The Maxwell Football Club released the list on Monday.

Jacas and Scott are among 90 players in contention for the award, which is given annually to college football's most outstanding defensive player. Illinois is one of 23 programs with more than one athlete on the preseason watch list, and Jacas and Scott are among 20 Big Ten players recognized.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 in honor of Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik. The selection process involves votes from NCAA head coaches, Maxwell Football Club members, sportswriters, and sportscasters nationwide. Previous winners include Travis Hunter (Colorado), Payton Wilson (NC State), and Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama).

Gabe Jacas enters the season with several accolades: he is on the Athlon Preseason All-America Third Team, Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List, Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team, Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team, and was recognized in Big Ten Preseason Honors. According to CBS.com's spring rankings, he is rated as the No. 20 overall player in college football. Last season, Jacas started all 13 games at outside linebacker for Illinois and finished second among returning Big Ten players in sacks with eight. He also recorded 74 tackles—13 for loss—and three forced fumbles.

Xavier Scott also appears on multiple preseason lists including Athlon Preseason All-America Fourth Team, Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team, and Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team. CBS.com ranked him as No. 139 overall this spring. In the previous season he started every game at defensive back for Illinois and had four interceptions—tying for second in the Big Ten—and led conference cornerbacks in snaps played.

Other Illinois players appear on various national award watch lists this preseason: Luke Altmyer (Maxwell Award), Tanner Arkin (John Mackey Award), Hank Beatty (Paul Hornung Award), Bret Bielema (Dodd Trophy), J.C. Davis (Outland Trophy), Kaden Feagin (Doak Walker Award), Lane Hansen (Patrick Mannelly Award), Aidan Laughery (Doak Walker Award), Kenenna Odeluga (Allstate AFCA Good Works Team/Allstate Wuerffel Trophy).