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Vanderbilt

Bryan Longwell Tabbed to Bednarik Award Watch List

Screenshotby: Will Byrum08/11/25TheWillByrum
NCAA Football: Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Nov 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Bryan Longwell (4) tackles Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson (6) during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Vanderbilt Linebacker Bryan Longwell was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list today, August 11th. The Chuck Bednarik Award was first awarded in 1995 and is presented annually to the best defensive player in all of college football. Recent winners include

Travis Hunter, Colorado (2024)
Payton Wilson, NC State (2023)
Will Anderson Jr, Alabama (2022)
Jordan Davis, Georgia (2021)
Zaven Collins, Tulsa (2020)

Bryan Longwell led Vanderbilt in total tackles during the 2024 campaign with 89. That ranked 8th in the SEC. Longwell accounted for 40 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 INT, and 7.5 tackles for loss. The Junior linebacker is returning and looks noticeably bigger than he did last season, in a good way. The first description that popped into me and Trevor’s minds was “RoboCop”. Longwell is looking to lead a very talented LB room in 2025, alongside Langston Patterson, that is returning all of it’s talent with some solid injections of youth to provide depth.

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