FB's Travion Barnes Lands on Bednarik Award Watch List
8/21/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Senior linebacker one of 17 Big 12 players nominated for nation’s most outstanding defensive player award
PHILADELPHIA – Baylor football senior linebacker Travion Barnes has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, as announced Friday by the Maxwell Football Club.
Barnes is one of 91 candidates on the award's preseason watch list, which is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Barnes is one of 33 linebackers and one of 17 players from the Big 12 named to the list.
A product of Altamonte Springs, Fla., and former transfer from FIU, Barnes played in the first four games of the 2025 season for Baylor before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Arizona State. He made 11 tackles, including a sack, in his limited action, highlighted by a six-tackle performance in Week 3 against Samford. Barnes joined the Bears after starring as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 for the Panthers, where he ranked fifth nationally in total tackles (129) and third in tackles per game (11.7). He also racked up 10 TFLs, three sacks, two interceptions and recovered a fumble.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania standout and member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24.
The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.
The 2026 Baylor football season kicks off on Sept. 5 with the Aflac Kickoff Game against Auburn in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with national coverage provided by ABC. BU opens its home slate on Sept. 12 against Prairie View A&M, the first of a three-game homestand at McLane Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets for all home games here.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2026 PRESEASON HONORS
Michael Allen, S
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Ryan Davis, JACK
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFN)
Gavin Freeman, WR
Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (PFN)
DJ Lagway, QB
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Tony Livingston, TE
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Dawson Pendergrass, RB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Jacob Redding, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team FLEX (Sports Info Solutions)
Dylan Schaub, LS
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Kaden Sieracki, OT
Preseason All-Big Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devonte Tezino, DL
Shriners 1000 Watch List
LeVar Thornton Jr., CB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devin Turner, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Hosea Wheeler, DL
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Palmer Williams, P
Preseason All-America First Team (Walter Camp Foundation)
Preseason All-America Second Team (CBS Sports)
Preseason All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Barnes is one of 91 candidates on the award's preseason watch list, which is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. Barnes is one of 33 linebackers and one of 17 players from the Big 12 named to the list.
A product of Altamonte Springs, Fla., and former transfer from FIU, Barnes played in the first four games of the 2025 season for Baylor before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Arizona State. He made 11 tackles, including a sack, in his limited action, highlighted by a six-tackle performance in Week 3 against Samford. Barnes joined the Bears after starring as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 for the Panthers, where he ranked fifth nationally in total tackles (129) and third in tackles per game (11.7). He also racked up 10 TFLs, three sacks, two interceptions and recovered a fumble.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania standout and member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24.
The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.
The 2026 Baylor football season kicks off on Sept. 5 with the Aflac Kickoff Game against Auburn in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with national coverage provided by ABC. BU opens its home slate on Sept. 12 against Prairie View A&M, the first of a three-game homestand at McLane Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets for all home games here.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor football, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BUFootball.
BAYLOR FOOTBALL 2026 PRESEASON HONORS
Michael Allen, S
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Travion Barnes, LB
Preseason All-Texas Second Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Ryan Davis, JACK
Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team (PFN)
Gavin Freeman, WR
Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (PFN)
DJ Lagway, QB
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Tony Livingston, TE
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Dawson Pendergrass, RB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Jacob Redding, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team FLEX (Sports Info Solutions)
Dylan Schaub, LS
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Kaden Sieracki, OT
Preseason All-Big Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devonte Tezino, DL
Shriners 1000 Watch List
LeVar Thornton Jr., CB
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Devin Turner, S
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Hosea Wheeler, DL
Preseason All-Big Third Team (Phil Steele)
Shriners 1000 Watch List
Palmer Williams, P
Preseason All-America First Team (Walter Camp Foundation)
Preseason All-America Second Team (CBS Sports)
Preseason All-America Third Team (Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 First Team (Media, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Texas First Team (Dave Campbell's Texas Football)
Ray Guy Award Watch List
Shriners 1000 Watch List
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