Three Ducks On Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
08/11/25 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher, defensive back Dillon Thieneman and outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei were all named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award on Monday morning.
Presented by the Maxwell Football Club, the Chuck Bednarik Award is given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Boettcher, Thieneman and Uiagalelei were also all on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is also given to college football's top defensive player.
The Ducks open their second full week of fall camp on Monday as they prepare for the 2025 season opener against Montana State on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Autzen Stadium (1:00 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network).
Single-game tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now.
ILB Bryce Boettcher
» Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
» Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» Butkus Award watch list
» 2024 Burlsworth Trophy Winner
» 2024 All-Big Ten second team (coaches & media)
» Started 13 games for Oregon in 2024, leading team with a career-high 94 tackles.
» Also had career highs of 8.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks while adding an interception and a forced fumble.
» Made multiple tackles in 13 of 14 contests, and had at least five tackles 11 times.
» Back for final year of football eligibility despite being selected by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft.
DB Dillon Thieneman
» Sporting News preseason all-America first team
» Walter Camp preseason all-America second team
» Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
» Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list
» One of 15 players named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List.
» Joined Oregon this offseason after spending the last two seasons at Purdue.
» 2023 FWAA Defensive Freshman of the Year and Associated Press third-team all-American.
» Ranked third nationally in 2023 with six interceptions and led all FBS freshmen with 74 solo tackles.
» 106 total tackles as a freshman, most among all FBS freshmen and fifth-most in the Big Ten.
» Led all Big Ten defensive backs in 2024 with 104 total tackles while starting all 12 games for Purdue.
OLB Matayo Uiagalelei
» Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
» Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» One of 15 players named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List.
» All-Big Ten first-team selection by the media in 2024, and second team by the league's coaches.
» 2024 finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
» Led the Big Ten during the 2024 regular season with a career-high 10.5 sacks while adding a career-high 12.5 TFLs.
» Finished 2024 with 38 total tackles, two forced fumbles, a blocked kick and an interception.
» Registered at least one sack in nine of 14 games with two multi-sack performances.
Ducks on Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award (National POY) - RB Makhi Hughes
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (National Defensive POY) - ILB Bryce Boettcher, DB Dillon Thieneman, ILB Matayo Uiagalelei
Outland Trophy (Top Interior Lineman) - OL Iapani Laloulu, OL Emmanuel Pregnon, OL Isaiah World
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Top Defensive Back) - DB Dillon Thieneman
Butkus Award (Top Linebacker) - ILB Bryce Boettcher, ILB Devon Jackson
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile) - RB Noah Whittington
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service) - OL Matthew Bedford
Walter Camp Player of the Year (National POY) - RB Makhi Hughes, QB Dante Moore
Doak Walker Award Watch List (Top Running Back) - RB Makhi Hughes, RB Noah Whittington
Patrick Mannelly Award (Top Long Snapper) - LS Luke Basso
Rimington Trophy (Top Center) - OL Iapani Laloulu
John Mackey Award (Top Tight End) - TE Kenyon Sadiq
Chuck Bednarik Award (National Defensive POY) - ILB Bryce Boettcher, DB Dillon Thieneman, ILB Matayo Uiagalelei
Presented by the Maxwell Football Club, the Chuck Bednarik Award is given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.
Boettcher, Thieneman and Uiagalelei were also all on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is also given to college football's top defensive player.
The Ducks open their second full week of fall camp on Monday as they prepare for the 2025 season opener against Montana State on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Autzen Stadium (1:00 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network).
Single-game tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now.
ILB Bryce Boettcher
» Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
» Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» Butkus Award watch list
» 2024 Burlsworth Trophy Winner
» 2024 All-Big Ten second team (coaches & media)
» Started 13 games for Oregon in 2024, leading team with a career-high 94 tackles.
» Also had career highs of 8.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks while adding an interception and a forced fumble.
» Made multiple tackles in 13 of 14 contests, and had at least five tackles 11 times.
» Back for final year of football eligibility despite being selected by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft.
DB Dillon Thieneman
» Sporting News preseason all-America first team
» Walter Camp preseason all-America second team
» Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
» Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list
» One of 15 players named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List.
» Joined Oregon this offseason after spending the last two seasons at Purdue.
» 2023 FWAA Defensive Freshman of the Year and Associated Press third-team all-American.
» Ranked third nationally in 2023 with six interceptions and led all FBS freshmen with 74 solo tackles.
» 106 total tackles as a freshman, most among all FBS freshmen and fifth-most in the Big Ten.
» Led all Big Ten defensive backs in 2024 with 104 total tackles while starting all 12 games for Purdue.
OLB Matayo Uiagalelei
» Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
» Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
» One of 15 players named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List.
» All-Big Ten first-team selection by the media in 2024, and second team by the league's coaches.
» 2024 finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
» Led the Big Ten during the 2024 regular season with a career-high 10.5 sacks while adding a career-high 12.5 TFLs.
» Finished 2024 with 38 total tackles, two forced fumbles, a blocked kick and an interception.
» Registered at least one sack in nine of 14 games with two multi-sack performances.
Ducks on Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award (National POY) - RB Makhi Hughes
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (National Defensive POY) - ILB Bryce Boettcher, DB Dillon Thieneman, ILB Matayo Uiagalelei
Outland Trophy (Top Interior Lineman) - OL Iapani Laloulu, OL Emmanuel Pregnon, OL Isaiah World
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Top Defensive Back) - DB Dillon Thieneman
Butkus Award (Top Linebacker) - ILB Bryce Boettcher, ILB Devon Jackson
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile) - RB Noah Whittington
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service) - OL Matthew Bedford
Walter Camp Player of the Year (National POY) - RB Makhi Hughes, QB Dante Moore
Doak Walker Award Watch List (Top Running Back) - RB Makhi Hughes, RB Noah Whittington
Patrick Mannelly Award (Top Long Snapper) - LS Luke Basso
Rimington Trophy (Top Center) - OL Iapani Laloulu
John Mackey Award (Top Tight End) - TE Kenyon Sadiq
Chuck Bednarik Award (National Defensive POY) - ILB Bryce Boettcher, DB Dillon Thieneman, ILB Matayo Uiagalelei
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Football
OL
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football2025 Oregon Football Uniform Reveal | Northwestern
Wednesday, September 10
Iapani Laloulu: "Be better every single day."
Wednesday, September 10
Dan Lanning: "Business trip."
Wednesday, September 10
Dillon Thieneman: "Keep grinding day in and day out."
Tuesday, September 09
