Three Alabama Players Named to Bednarik Watchlist

Alabama has three players named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watchlist on Friday morning: safety Bray Hubbard, cornerback Zabien Brown, and linebacker Yhonzae Pierre. The Bednarik Award is presented annually to the top defender in college football.

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Zabien Brown, Junior, Cornerback

Brown is a two-year starter for Kane Wommack on defense, totaling 39 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a team-high six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two pick-sixes last season for the Crimson Tide.

Bray Hubbard, Senior, Safety

Hubbard burst onto the scene as a sophomore in 2024 before being a full-time starter for Coach Wommack in 2025. Last season, Hubbard totaled 79 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, a team-high six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and a team-leading four interceptions. He earned All-American and All-SEC honors last season for his efforts on defense.

Yhonzae Pierre, Linebacker, Senior

Pierre exploded last season for the Crimson Tide, leading the team with 8.0 sacks in his third season in Tuscaloosa, starting the final 12 games of the year. He recorded 52 tackles, a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss, paced the Alabama defense with 9.0 quarterback hurries, and recorded three forced fumbles.

The trio of Alabama defenders are among 91 total prospects named to the Bednarik Award Watchlist on Friday, including 24 SEC players:

Bray Hubbard, S - Alabama
Zabien Brown, CB - Alabama
Yhonzae Pierre, LB - Alabama
Quincy Rhodes, DE - Arkansas
Xavier Atkins, LB - Auburn
Myles Graham, LB - Florida
Raylen Wilson, LB - Georgia
Ellis Robinson, CB - Georgia
KJ Bolden, S - Georgia
Princewill Imanmielen, DE - LSU
Whit Weeks, LB - LSU
DJ Pickett, CB - LSU
Kelley Jones, CB - Mississippi State
David Stone, DT - Oklahoma
Kip Lewis, LB - Oklahoma
Peyton Bowen, S - Oklahoma
Will Echoles, NT - Ole Miss
Keaton Thomas, LB - Ole Miss
Dylan Stewart, DE - South Carolina
Amare Campbell, LB - Tennessee
Ty Redmond, CB - Tennessee
Colin Simmons, DE - Texas
Rasheem Biles, LB - Texas
Dalton Brooks, S - Texas A&M

Alabama has had three Bednarik Award winners in the program's history:

Jonathan Allen - 2016
Minkah Fitzpatrick - 2017
Will Anderson Jr. - 2022

Alabama will return to the practice field for fall camp practice No. 14 on Sunday morning. Alabama's first game of the 2026 season is scheduled for Saturday, September 5, at home against East Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.