Alabama’s football program revealed this week that three of its defensive standouts have earned spots on the 2026 Bednarik Award watch list, a 91‑player preseason pool that highlights the nation’s most promising defensive talent.
Zabien Brown, a sophomore cornerback who started every game in 2025, recorded 39 tackles and two pick‑sixes, while Bray Hubbard, a junior who garnered All‑America and All‑SEC honors, tallied 79 stops, four interceptions and six pass breakups. Senior linebacker Yhonzae Pierre contributed 52 tackles, 14.5 for loss and eight sacks, leading the team in quarterback pressures and forced fumbles.
Award Background
The Bednarik Award, presented annually since 1995, recognizes the most outstanding defensive player in college football and is named for the late Chuck Bednarik, a Hall‑of‑Fame linebacker whose legacy continues to shape the award’s prestige.
Alabama has previously claimed three Bednarik winners—Jonathan Allen, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Will Anderson Jr.—underscoring the program’s tradition of defensive excellence. The watch list will narrow to semifinalists on November 10, with finalists determined on November 24 and the champion announced on December 10.