Kentucky defensive standouts Maxwell Hairston and Deone Walker have been named to the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, as announced today by the Maxwell Football Club. The Bednarik Award, presented annually since 1994, honors the College Defensive Player of the Year. Named after Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, a legendary All-American at the University of Pennsylvania and a multiple-year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles, the award carries the legacy of one of the last NFL players to play both offense and defense full-time.
Maxwell Hairston: Rising Star in the Secondary
Maxwell Hairston, a 6-foot-1, 186-pound defensive back from Detroit, had a breakout 2023 season, recording five interceptions, with four in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. His five interceptions ranked fifth nationally and tied for the fifth-most in a single season in Kentucky program history, the highest since Sam Maxwell’s six picks in 2009. Hairston’s 131 interception return yards were the most by a Wildcat since Greg Long’s 176 yards in 1981.
Hairston’s performance was highlighted by a standout game against Vanderbilt, where he notched two interceptions, returning both for touchdowns, tying an SEC single-game record. For his efforts, he was named National Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Back of the Week. In addition to his interceptions, Hairston ranked eighth in the SEC in passes defended in 2023 with 11.
He is also on the watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Hairston is on track to graduate in December 2024 with a degree in community leadership and development.
Deone Walker: Dominant Force on the Defensive Line
Deone Walker, a 6-foot-6, 348-pound defensive lineman, also from Detroit, is coming off a stellar sophomore season in 2023. Despite facing frequent double teams, Walker led the Wildcats in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5), and quarterback hurries (8). He also recorded two pass breakups, one of which led to a pivotal interception in Kentucky’s victory over Florida on September 30.
Named one of seven permanent team captains last season, Walker played in and started all 13 games, extending his streak to 24 consecutive starts dating back to his freshman season in 2022. In 2023, Walker set or tied single-game career highs in multiple categories, including nine tackles at South Carolina, 4.0 tackles for loss at Missouri, and 1.0 sack at South Carolina.
Walker’s impressive season earned him first-team All-SEC honors from multiple selectors and a third-team All-America selection by the College Football Network in 2023. He is also on the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Outland Trophy.
Looking Ahead: The Road to the Bednarik Award
Last year’s Chuck Bednarik Award was won by Payton Wilson Jr. of NC State, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kentucky’s own Josh Allen won the award in 2018, solidifying his place among the nation’s top defenders.
The semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 12, 2024, with the three finalists revealed on November 26, 2024. The winners will be announced during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12, 2024, with the formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Award taking place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.