AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn junior Keldric Faulk continues to rack up preseason recognition, including a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
Presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, the Chuck Bednarik Award honors its namesake, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last “60-minute men” for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence, and leadership on the field—values that the award bearing his name seeks to recognize in today’s top defensive players.
Faulk, a 6-6, 285-pound defensive lineman from Highland Home, Alabama, made seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 45 tackles last season, bringing his two-year totals to 81 tackles, eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.
The three-year starter also landed on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list for the national defensive player of the year, along with earning first-team preseason All-SEC honors and Athlon Sports All-America honors.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 11 while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 25. The winner of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11. The formal presentations of the Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Faulk and the Tigers kick off the 2025 season Aug. 29 at Baylor in Waco, Texas, at 7 p.m. CT on Fox and the Auburn Sports Network.