Philadelphia, Pa. - Ohio's DJ Walker represented the Mid-American Conference on the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watchlist, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club today. The award is given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year. 

Walker, who has already landed on the Wuerffel Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award Watchlists this preseason, returns after a strong 2025 campaign in which he served as a team captain and started all 13 games for the Bobcats. He finished the season with 61 tackles, including 37 solo stops and six tackles for loss, while recording two interceptions and one pass breakup. Walker recorded his first interception against Bowling Green on Sept. 27 before adding his second in Ohio's Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl victory over UNLV on Dec. 23.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.

#MACtion on 2026 Preseason Watchlists
Maxwell Award
Jordan Gant, Akron
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan
Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan

Outland Trophy
Evan Malcore, Miami
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan

Bronko Nagurski
Bryce Llewellyn, Eastern Michigan
Josh Franklin, Western Michigan

John Mackey Award
Terik Mulder, Kent State
Joshua Long, Eastern Michigan

Rimington Trophy
Nicholas Gallegos, Eastern Michigan

Paul Hornung Award
Keith Reynolds, Miami

Wuerffel Trophy
Caden Britton, Ball State 
Stevie Bracey, Buffalo 
Angel Flores, Central Michigan 
Dennis Strey Jr., Eastern Michigan 
Wayne Harris, Kent State 
Riley Bloch, UMass 
DJ Walker, Ohio 
Derek Houston, Sacramento State
Matt Hofer, Toledo
Dakari Frazier, Western Michigan 

Lombardi Award
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan

Jim Thorpe Award
DJ Walker, Ohio

Butkus Award
Blayne Myrick, Miami 

Ray Guy Award
Pierse Stainton, Miami

Walter Camp Award
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan

Doak Walker Award
Braydon Bennett, Eastern Michigan
Vaughn Blue, Central Michigan
CJ Miller, Toledo 

Davey O'Brien Award
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan

Chuck Bednarik Award
DJ Walker, Ohio