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Gators LB Myles Graham Named to Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List

The Bednarik Award is given annually to the nation's top defensive player.
Kyle Lander|
The Bednarik Award is given annually to the nation's top defensive player.
The Bednarik Award is given annually to the nation's top defensive player. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Florida Gators

The Maxwell Football Club revealed the Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List on Friday, with Florida Gators linebacker Myles Graham among those listed. Graham is also part of the Butkus Award and Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch lists. 

The Bednarik Award, given annually since 1994, is given to the college defensive player of the year.

Graham has been a regular contributor for the Gators defense in his two years with the program. He has played in 25 total games, tallying 106 total tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. 

Following a strong freshman season, Graham earned a larger role as a sophomore in 2025. He started all 12 games, recording 76 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, four pass breakups and two sacks. 

Additionally, he became the first Florida linebacker to lead the team in tackles since the 2021 season and one of four SEC players to log at least 75 tackles and at least seven tackles for loss in the regular season. 

Now, after having gained valuable experience in the SEC over the past two years, Graham is more confident than ever to be the anchor in the middle of the field for the Gators heading into his junior campaign. 

“I'm extremely confident; just having that, like you said, year of experience last year, it gives me a whole other level of confidence under my belt,” Graham said last month at SEC Media Day. “Just knowing what to expect at this level and playing a lot of snaps, it really helps me just be able to process the game faster and make even more plays and just be a guy that I just want to be the anchor in the defense that anchors that defense in the middle.”

Graham has already shown several signs of being an anchor for the defense. In addition to the veteran experience he boasts, he was also voted to the SEC Fall Football Leadership Council, and that is not something he has taken lightly. 

“It means a lot, just having that respect from my peers, just being able to be voted for that,” Graham said. “It really means a lot to me, coming up as a young kid and looking up to guys like Shemar James and Jake Slaughter, and seeing how they did it. I just wanted to kind of do the same thing. And I'm just blessed to be on that council.”

Should Graham win, he would be the first Gator to do so in program history. The semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 10, with the three finalists revealed two weeks later. The winner will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.

In addition to Graham, Florida has seen defensive lineman LJ McCray (Comeback Player of the Year) running back Jadan Baugh (Maxwell Award, Hornung Award, Doak Walker Award), punter Alec Clark (Ray Guy Award), receiver Vernell Brown III (Hornung Award), center Harrison Moore (Rimington Trophy) and kicker Patrick Durkin (Lou Groza Award) all named to a preseason award watch list.

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Kyle Lander
KYLE LANDER

Kyle Lander is a contributing writer at Florida Gators on SI. He is also a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in journalism. On top of his writing, Kyle is a photographer for the site as well. Outside of his work with Florida Gators on SI, he likes to hike, travel, watch movies and hang out with family and friends.

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