STARKVILLE — Mississippi State cornerback Kelley Jones has been named to the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Friday.
Jones appeared in 11 games with four starts last season, recording 29 tackles. He enters 2026 on the Associated Press and Pro Football Network All-America lists, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List, Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team, and Senior Bowl Top 300.
The Bednarik Award, given annually to the top defensive player in college football, will have semifinalists announced on Nov. 10, 2026. Three finalists will be revealed on Nov. 24, with the winner announced during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. The Maxwell Football Club will host the formal presentation in Atlanta on March 13, 2027.
The award is part of the National College Football Awards Association, which includes 25 of college football’s most prestigious honors. Jones was also named to the preseason second team All-America team by the Associated Press earlier this week.
For updates on Mississippi State football, follow MSU on X, Facebook, and Instagram by searching for “HailStateFB.”
