Virginia Tech DL Kemari Copeland Named to Bednarik Award Watch List

Copeland was previously tabbed to the Senior Bowl Top 300, Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy watch lists this offseason.

Virginia Tech Athletics

Virginia Tech defensive lineman Kemari Copeland was tabbed to the Bednarik Award Watch List, the program announced on social media Friday afternoon.

Kemari Copeland has been named to the @BednarikAward Watch List!

The Bednarik Award is presented to the college defensive player of the year.

🔗: https://t.co/rmvg3Lhqz9#LetsGoHokies pic.twitter.com/vjCCVNjsue

— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) August 21, 2026

The Chuck Bednarik Award is an annual award bestowed to the top college defensive player of the year. The award has been in existence since 1997, with two ACC players winning it in the last 15 years: Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald in 2013 and NC State's Payton Wilson in 2023.

The Bednarik Award Watch List is the fifth major watch list that Copeland has landed on this offseason. Yesterday afternoon, the 6-foot-2 defensive tackle, along with tight end Luke Reynolds, were named to the Senior Bowl Top 300 watch list. Copeland was also previously named to the Nagurski and Outland Trophy watch lists, as well as the East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List.

Last season, Copeland broke out in his second year with the Hokies, totaling 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading 4.5 sacks. Against California on Oct. 24, he became the first Hokie since his then-position coach in J.C. Price (1995) to log three sacks in a single game. In that contest, Copeland logged seven tackles, four of which were unassisted. For his efforts, he was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week in what ended up as a 42-34 overtime win for Virginia Tech.

Copeland currently holds the program records for squat (605 pounds, 10 reps) and for bench press (510 pounds for one rep).

Copeland was named All-ACC Third Team, one of two Hokies to land on an All-ACC team (the other was DT Kody Huisman, who was All-ACC Honorable Mention) and is the lone returning All-ACC player for the Hokies. He was named to the All-ACC Preseason Team in late July and finished second of all defensive tackles in voting (Miami's Ahmad Moten Sr. was first with 126 votes; Copeland garnered 89.)

Copeland's breakout was one of few bright spots in a disappointing season for the Hokies, who finished 3-9 (2-6 ACC) for their lowest mark by winning percentage since the 1992 season. Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry after a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion that dropped it to 0-3, and hired James Franklin on Nov. 17.

Twelve ACC players were named to the Bednarik Award Watch List: Copeland, Clemson's Sammy Brown and Ashton Hampton, Florida State's Ja'Bril Rawls, Louisville's Clev Lubin, Miami's Ahmad Moten Sr. and Damon Wilson II, North Carolina's Melkart Abou Jaoude, Pitt's Braylan Lovelace, Stanford's Matt Rose, Virginia's Kam Robinson and Wake Forest's Langston Hardy.

The semifinalists for the award will be announced Nov. 10, with three finalists announced on Nov. 24. Per the ACC's release, the winner will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.

Virginia Tech's 2026 season starts on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Hokies host VMI at Lane Stadium. The contest kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and is available for viewing on the ACC Network.