Tennessee’s Amare Campbell and Ty Redmond named to 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

Tennessee’s defense received a formal preseason boost with two of its established playmakers named to the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The Maxwell Football Club, which oversees the annual award, listed Vols linebacker Amare Campbell and defensive back Ty Redmond as contenders for college football’s top defensive-player honor.

Campbell’s résumé is built around volume and impact from the linebacker position. According to the watch-list release, he has started 27 of his 37 career games and has totaled 193 tackles, including 120 solo stops. The production also shows up behind the line of scrimmage, where he has recorded 22 tackles for loss for 98 yards and has added 10.5 sacks.

Beyond bringing down ball carriers, the watch list highlighted Campbell’s work against the passing game. His collegiate stat line cited in the announcement includes three pass breakups, one interception, and additional ball-winning contributions such as one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

Redmond, Tennessee’s defensive back, was named alongside Campbell after earning recognition for defensive play at the secondary level. The watch-list release framed Redmond as a proven playmaker, an acknowledgement that the Vols are expected to lean on him for coverage and pass disruption as camp transitions into the regular season.

The Bednarik Award watch list matters because it functions as an early snapshot of the players national voters will be asked to weigh when the season’s full body of work is complete. Being named does not guarantee the final outcome, but it does report that the Maxwell Football Club expects those defenders to carry a meaningful share of their team’s playmaking load in high-leverage situations.

For Tennessee, having two defenders on the same award list underscores the program’s emphasis on building around difference-makers on that side of the ball. It also provides a clear storyline for fans and evaluators: can Campbell’s mixture of tackling, pressure, and ball disruption translate into all-around defensive dominance, and can Redmond continue to produce as Tennessee’s last line of defense against top targets.

As the season approaches, the main thing to watch is whether both players can sustain their statistical impact while facing increasingly deliberate game plans. With the Bednarik Award rooted in defensive excellence, Tennessee’s performances against strong offenses will likely shape how each candidate is perceived as the award race narrows.