McCoy, Virgin-Morgan Named to Bednarik Award Watch List
8/11/2025 10:00:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State defensive standouts A'Marion McCoy and Jayden Virgin-Morgan were tabbed to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. This is the first time multiple Broncos have been selected since 2015, when safety Darian Thompson and STUD Kamalei Correa were recognized.
Boise State is the only program from the Mountain West and one of 23 teams in the country with multiple selections. McCoy and Virgin-Morgan are two of five MW student-athletes on the 90-player watch list, joining Al'zillion Hamilton (Fresno State), Jordan Pollard (San Jose State) and Trey White (San Diego State). This is the fourth-straight season the Broncos have been represented on the watch list, a streak that began in 2022 with Scott Matlock before continuing with DJ Schramm (2023) and Ahmed Hassanein (2024).
McCoy, who was also included on the Thorpe Award and Shrine Bowl 1000 watch lists, led the FBS with 19 forced incompletions last season. He was named All-America Honorable Mention by College Football Network, limiting opponents to 51 completions on 101 attempts when targeted and ranking second in the country with 11 pass breakups. The fifth year cornerback is also a Preseason All-MW selection and has appeared in all 28 games since joining the program in 2023.
Virgin-Morgan adds to a list of preseason accolades that includes watch list inclusion for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Shrine Bowl 1000. The Athlon Sports Preseason All-American led the Broncos with 10.0 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2024, ranking in the nation's top 20 in both categories. The redshirt junior EDGE joined McCoy on the Preseason All-MW list. A team captain, Virgin-Morgan was selected All-MW First Team last season.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be selected Nov. 11, with three finalists named Nov. 25. The recipient of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards, which airs Dec. 11 on ESPN. The winner will be recognized at the Maxwell Football Club Awards program, held March 13, 2026, in Atlanta.
Broncos on 2025 Watch Lists
S Ty Benefield (Paycom Jim Thorpe Award)
OL Kage Casey (Outland Trophy)
RB Sire Gaines (Doak Walker Award)
LS Mason Hutton (Patrick Mannelly Award)
TE Matt Lauter (Mackey Award)
QB Maddux Madsen (Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award)
CB A'Marion McCoy (Chuck Bednarik Award, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award)
LB Marco Notarainni (Wuerffel Trophy)
EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy)
--BroncoSports.com--
Boise State is the only program from the Mountain West and one of 23 teams in the country with multiple selections. McCoy and Virgin-Morgan are two of five MW student-athletes on the 90-player watch list, joining Al'zillion Hamilton (Fresno State), Jordan Pollard (San Jose State) and Trey White (San Diego State). This is the fourth-straight season the Broncos have been represented on the watch list, a streak that began in 2022 with Scott Matlock before continuing with DJ Schramm (2023) and Ahmed Hassanein (2024).
McCoy, who was also included on the Thorpe Award and Shrine Bowl 1000 watch lists, led the FBS with 19 forced incompletions last season. He was named All-America Honorable Mention by College Football Network, limiting opponents to 51 completions on 101 attempts when targeted and ranking second in the country with 11 pass breakups. The fifth year cornerback is also a Preseason All-MW selection and has appeared in all 28 games since joining the program in 2023.
Virgin-Morgan adds to a list of preseason accolades that includes watch list inclusion for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Shrine Bowl 1000. The Athlon Sports Preseason All-American led the Broncos with 10.0 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2024, ranking in the nation's top 20 in both categories. The redshirt junior EDGE joined McCoy on the Preseason All-MW list. A team captain, Virgin-Morgan was selected All-MW First Team last season.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be selected Nov. 11, with three finalists named Nov. 25. The recipient of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards, which airs Dec. 11 on ESPN. The winner will be recognized at the Maxwell Football Club Awards program, held March 13, 2026, in Atlanta.
Broncos on 2025 Watch Lists
S Ty Benefield (Paycom Jim Thorpe Award)
OL Kage Casey (Outland Trophy)
RB Sire Gaines (Doak Walker Award)
LS Mason Hutton (Patrick Mannelly Award)
TE Matt Lauter (Mackey Award)
QB Maddux Madsen (Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award)
CB A'Marion McCoy (Chuck Bednarik Award, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award)
LB Marco Notarainni (Wuerffel Trophy)
EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy)
--BroncoSports.com--
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