Winners of the Chuck Bednarik Award for the outstanding collegiate defensive player:
2025_Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
2024_Travis Hunter, Colorado
2023_Payton Wilson, NC State
2022_Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2021_Jordan Davis, Georgia
2020_Zach Collins, Tulsa
2019_Chase Young, Ohio State
2018_Josh Allen, Kentucky
2017_Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2016_Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2015_Tyler Matakevich, Temple
2014_Scooby Wright III, Arizona
2013_Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
2012_Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
2011_Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
2010_Patrick Peterson, LSU
2009_Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2008_Rey Maualuga, Southern California
2007_Dan Connor, Penn State
2006_Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2005_Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2004_David Pollack, Georgia
2003_Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma
2002_E.J. Henderson, Maryland
2001_Julius Peppers, North Carolina
2000_Dan Morgan, Miami
1999_LaVar Arrington, Penn State
1998_Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M
1997_Charles Woodson, Michigan
1996_Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1995_Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern