JJ Weaver named to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List

Watch list season rolls on today and JJ Weaver is the latest Kentucky Wildcat to receive recognition for his play on the field. The senior outside linebacker is one of 85 players on the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football by The Maxwell Football Club.

Weaver turned down the 2022 NFL Draft to return to Kentucky for a senior season. The Louisville native played in 11 games as a junior, starting eight. He totaled 47 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, a team-high 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, a team-high three fumble recoveries, a team-high tying two forced fumbles, and a blocked kick. He will graduate from UK in December with a degree in community leadership and development.

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 who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple-year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

Josh Allen is the only Kentucky Wildcat to win the Bednarik Award, taking it home in 2018 following a standout season in which he totaled 88 tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss, and broke UK’s single-season sacks record with 17. Kentucky went 10-3 that season, which ended with a victory over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl.

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Weaver receiving NFL Draft buzz

Over three years at Kentucky, Weaver has accumulated 120 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 47 pressures, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions in 1,297 defensive snaps. That’s pretty impressive considering he’s yet to get through a full season without some type of injury. This offseason, Weaver focused on adding weight to his frame, which will hopefully help him avoid an injury this year.

Expectations are high for Weaver entering his senior season. Last month, he was named a preseason third-team All-SEC selection, and last week, was tabbed an SEC breakout player by Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl.

“Despite mostly playing one-armed on junior tape (with dislocated elbow), Weaver showed natural power playing through contact in both phases last year,” Nagy wrote on social media. “Staffers say he has packed on good bulk this offseason, going from 235 pounds to 254, which should make him even more difficult to block this year.”

“NFL teams looking for 3-4 OLB (outside linebacker) help will like Weaver as an edge-setter and how he takes up space as a dropper and J.J. Weaver could boost his draft stock significantly this year if turns pass rush flashes into more consistent pressure.”

If you’re looking for an SEC prospect who could breakout this year, @seniorbowl thinks Kentucky EDGE J.J. Weaver will be that guy.

Hard-luck injuries, including an ACL in 2020, have slowed his development but Weaver (6045v, 34 1/2 arm) has an NFL frame and NFL game.

Despite… pic.twitter.com/sZZSK4EMMl

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 8, 2023

Kentucky Wildcats on Preseason Award Watch Lists

Weaver is the sixth Wildcat to be named to an award watch list this preseason. Catch up on all the honors below.

• QB Devin Leary: Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award
• ILB Trevin Wallace: Butkus Award
• K Alex Raynor: Lou Groza Award
• WR/KR Barion Brown: Paul Hornung Award
• DL Deone Walker: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy
• OLB JJ Weaver: Chuck Bednarik Award

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