Two Miami Hurricanes Tabbed to Bednarik Award Watch List

Miami defensive standouts Rueben Bain Jr. and OJ Frederique Jr. have earned a spot on the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football.

Bain, a junior defensive lineman, has been a force for the Hurricanes since arriving on campus. The 2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year owns All-ACC honors from each of his first two seasons and has piled up 11 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 67 total tackles in 22 career games. 

Frederique, a sophomore defensive back, wasted no time making an impact in his first season as a Hurricane. Frederique earned Freshman All-America recognition from the Football Writers Association of America and 247Sports and was named an All-ACC honorable mention. Frederique finished 2024 tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups, recorded 30 tackles and collected his first interception in Miami’s win over Duke.

With Bain and Frederique’s selections, nine Hurricanes have earned spots on national preseason watch lists.

Miami Hurricane Football 2025 Awards Tracker

2025 PRESEASON WATCH LIST HONOREES:

Adam Booker – Patrick Mannelly Award

Carson Beck – Walter Camp Player of the Year and Maxwell Award

Rueben Bain Jr. – Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award

OJ Frederique Jr. – Chuck Bednarik Award

Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa – Outland Trophy

Francis Mauigoa – Wuerffel Trophy

Wesley Bissainthe – Butkus Award

James Brockermeyer – Rimington Trophy

Keelan Marion – Paul Hornung Award

The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine. 

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 26, 2024. The winners of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Questions concerning the 2024 Bednarik Award watch list can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.

Courtesy of Miami Athletics

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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is the site lead for the Miami Hurricanes on SI. He can be reached at Twitter @Justice_News5.