PHILADELPHIA — BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker was today named to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club.
The 2025 Bednarik Award watch list incorporates players from a broad spectrum of FBS Division I programs and conferences, including the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, AAC, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt. A total of 12 student-athletes from the Big 12 Conference made the Bednarik Award watch list.
Glasker, a 6-5, 235-pound junior from South Jordan, Utah, was previously named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, honoring the nation's top linebacker. Following the 2024 season, he received All-America honorable mention by Sports Illustrated and was the Defensive MVP of the Valero Alamo Bowl, leading BYU to a 36-14 win over Colorado.
Statistically, Glasker led the Big 12 in tackles for loss with 13.5. For BYU, he was second on the team with 62 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two interceptions. Last season, Glasker was named Midseason All-America by The Athletic and Midseason All-Big 12 by College Football Network.
The Bednarik Award is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American 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.
Semifinalists for the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on Nov. 11, with the three finalists unveiled Nov. 25. The winner of the award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11. The formal presentations of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2026, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Maxwell Football Club partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff.