2025 Bednarik Award Odds: Favorites & Betting Lines for Best Defensive Player

By Christopher Boan Nov 12th, 2025 4:06 PM EST

USA Today

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A year after Colorado’s Travis Hunter took the honor for the nation’s top defensive collegiate player, it’s up in the air who will be the heir in 2025.

A host of players are doing their fair share to deserve this year’s Bednarik Award. With that in mind, Bookies.com broke down hypothetical odds on which college football player has the best shot at succeeding Hunter as the Bednarik Award winner in 2025. These odds are exclusive to Bookies.com, but college football betting sites have plenty of other wagers to consider all season.

2025 Bednarik Award Odds

Player	College	Odds	Percentage Chance
Reuben Bain Jr.	Miami (FL)	+550	15.4%
David Bailey	Texas Tech	+650	13.3%
Jacob Rodriguez	Texas Tech	+650	13.3%
Cashius Howell	Texas A&M	+1000	9.1%
John Henry Daley	Utah	+1000	9.1%
Caleb Downs	Ohio State	+1250	7.4%
Mansoor Delane	LSU	+1250	7.4%
Arvell Reese	Ohio State	+1750	5.4%
Xavier Atkins	Auburn	+2000	4.8%
Red Murdock	Buffalo	+2000	4.8%
Leonard Moore	Notre Dame	+3000	3.2%
CJ Allen	Georgia	+3000	3.2%
The Field		+1500	6.3%

Bookies.com breaks down CFB futures betting odds and reveals value picks on the next Bednarik winner.

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Which CFB Player Will Win The 2025 Bednarik Award?

Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami [FL] DL): +550

So far this year, the junior defensive lineman has managed to make 31 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss, to go with his first NCAA interception in nine games played for the 7-2 Hurricanes, landing him atop our latest Bednarik Award odds board, at +550.

In his last five games, Bain has made four solo tackles and nine total tackles, along with 2.5 TFLs and a sack, bolstering a UM defense that’s been ferocious for most of the year, so far. It’s because of that level of play that Bain’s junior season in South Florida has him atop our Bednarik board, potentially becoming the first ‘Cane to win the honor since Dan Morgan did in 2000.

David Bailey (Texas Tech linebacker): +650

The first of two Texas Tech linebackers to make our latest Bednarik Award board is a first-year member of the Red Raiders, with David Bailey making opponents suffer in his first year in Lubbock after spending three years at Stanford.

To date, Bailey’s made the most of his senior year in the Lone Star State, with 31 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. While no Texas Tech defender has ever won the Bednarik Award, Bailey and his linebacking compatriot Jacob Rodriguez are right there among the leaders to do so this year, thanks to the solid play that both have shown on the field in 2025.

Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech linebacker): +650

Like Bailey, Rodriguez has unleashed unholy hell on opposing teams this year for the Red Raiders, with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions through 10 games played. If that wasn’t enough, Rodriguez has added seven forced fumbles and five pass deflections, cementing his status as one of the most feared linebackers in the college game this season.

A year after finishing with career highs in tackles (127), TFL (10.5) and sacks (5.0), it looks like Rodriguez is out to rewrite the records books again, with the redshirt senior on pace for 110 tackles in 12 games (or 119 if Texas Tech makes the Big 12 title game), meaning he’d likely pass his total from 2024 in the Red Raiders bowl game.

For now, Rodriguez checks in at +650, ranking second nationally on our Bednarik Award odds board alongside his teammate, though that could change if he’s able to wreak havoc on opposing teams down the stretch in Lubbock.

Cashius Howell (Texas A&M defensive end): +1000

The third straight Bednarik Award candidate from a Texas university is a transfer from Bowling Green, with second-year A&M defensive end Cashius Howell racking up tackles for loss and sacks galore in College Station this season.

Through his first nine games played, Howell has 11.5 tackles for loss (breaking his previous career high of 10.5), to go with 10.5 sacks (one more than his previous high of 9.5), showing himself to be one of the best big men in the trenches this year.

For his efforts, Howell currently ranks in a tie for fourth nationally on our Bednarik Award board at +1000, though he’ll have plenty of opportunities to gain ground as the Aggies look to wrap up an unblemished 12-0 season down the stretch.

John Henry Daley (Utah defensive end): +1000

The former BYU Cougars defensive end has made a name for himself in Salt Lake City, thanks to making 14.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks for the Utes in nine games played.

Daley’s efforts come after playing sparingly with the Cougars and Utes in 2023 and 2024, making seven tackles with one TFL and sack combined in 10 games played, illustrating his metamorphosis from gameday afterthought to legitimate NFL prospect in 2025.

Right now, we’re giving Daley +1000 odds of becoming Ute in school history to bring home the Bednarik Award, ranking alongside Howell on our odds board right now.

Other Potential Bednarik Award Contenders

The only other contenders for the Bednarik Award that have odds of +2000 or better right now are names like Caleb Downs of Ohio State LSU’s Mansoor Delane (+1250 each) and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, who currently is listed at +1750 to win the honor.

Two more names, in Auburn’s Xavier Atkins and Red Murdock of Buffalo, are co-listed at +2000 apiece to win the award, while longshots to win it include Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore and CJ Allen of Georgia, who are both at +3000 right now.

Also of interest: John Mackey Award Odds.