PHILADELPHIA — The Maxwell Football Club today released its preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually since 1994 to the outstanding defensive player in college football. Included on the 2026 Bednarik Award watch list are BYU linebackers Isaiah Glasker and Cade Uluave and safety Faletau Satuala.
The Bednarik Award is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American at Pennsylvania and later an 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.
BYU, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech lead all schools with three candidates each. Ten FBS conferences are represented in the 89 players selected, led by the SEC (24), Big10 (19), Big12 (17) and ACC (12).
GLASKER, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, was previously named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year. He was also selected to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 First Team and listed as one of the top senior prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft by The Athletic.
As a junior in 2025, Glasker posted 67 total tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss. The Cougar co-captain also had 3 sacks, a forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. Glasker was named third-team All-Big 12 and was on the watch list for both the Butkus Award and the Bednarik Award.
SATUALA, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior from Bountiful, Utah, played in all 14 games for No. 12-ranked BYU in 2025. He led the Cougars with 78 tackles and 2 forced fumbles, while collecting 3 interceptions and 7.5 tackles for loss, en route to being named second-team All-America by the FWAA. Satuala also earned All-Big 12 honors and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Lott Trophy Player of the Week for his play in helping BYU defeat Iowa State in Ames to improve to 8-0 on the season.
Satuala was recently named to the preseason watch lists for the 2026 Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award. He was also selected preseason All-America and All-Big 12 by Athlon Sports and was named Preseason All-Big 12 by Phil Steele, Pro Football Network and Sports Info Solutions.
ULUAVE, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, was recently named a preseason candidate for several national awards including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. He was also named preseason All-America by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports and was selected Preseason All-Big 12 by the conference, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Uluave is in his first year at BYU after transferring from Cal. A 2025 All-ACC First-Team linebacker, Uluave led Cal with 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 5 quarterback hurries. Over three seasons, he played in 34 games for the Bears, starting 26. Uluave has 237 career tackles, 21.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 24. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held Dec. 10 The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also involved in local community work through programs to promote academic excellence, volunteerism and leadership.