11 of Florida’s high school football alumni athletes have found their way on to the 2016 watch list released today for the Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club.
The Bednairk Award, which has been presented annually since 1995, is awarded to college football’s best defensive player for the season. The award is named after Chuck Bednarik a former collegiate and professional American football player.
Here are the athletes from Florida that made the watch list.
Position, Name, College, High School
• DE Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss, University Christian
• DE Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic, Apopka
• S Eddie Jackson, Alabama, Boyd Anderson
• S Derwin James, Florida State, Haines City
• LB Keith Kelsey, Louisville, Gainesville
• CB William Likely, Maryland, Glades Central
• S Marcus Maye, Florida, Holy Trinity
• S Matt Milano, Boston College, Dr. Phillips
• CB Deatrick Nichols, South Florida, Miami Central
• DE DeMarcus Walker, Florida State, Sandalwood
• LB Anthony Walker, Northwestern, Monsignor Pace
Award semifinalists will be announced on October 31, while finalists will be announced on November 22 with the award winner being presented on December 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
![Ponte Vedra is making its debut in the Florida Top 25 this week. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Week-6-Florida-Top-25-and-Classification-Rankings-Flag-Football-Featured.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Spruce Creek (Port Orange) stunned No. 22 New Smyrna Beach this week as the Hawks remain undefeated. [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Flag-Football-Final-Central-Florida-March-10-15-2025.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Robinson (Tampa) - defending State Champions from 2024 - is back on top as the No. 1 overall team in the Sunshine State in our girls flag football Florida Top 25. [Robinson Flag Football - @RobinsonFlag/X]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-Week-4-Girls-Flag-Football-Rankings.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Sunlake (Land O' Lakes) is in their inagural season of girls flag football and is already making noise in Pasco County and in Tampa Bay. [Sunlake HS Girls Flag Football/Instagram]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Tampa-Bay-Flag-Football-Final-Mar-3-4-2025.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
![Strawberry Crest (Dover) quarterback Zoe Surrency, No. 7 (right), is one of five athletes up for vote for Tampa Bay Girls Flag Football Player of the Week for Week 2. [@SCHSFlag/X]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Tamp-Bay-POTW-Voting-Featured-Week-2.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
