The College Defensive Player of the Year Award is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
The winner of the 16th Annual Chuck Bednarik Award, Patrick Peterson, Louisiana State University defensive back.
Voters for the Maxwell College Awards are NCAA Head College Football Coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club & sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country
| Award Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Patrick Peterson | Louisiana State University |
| 2009 | Ndamukong Suh | University of Nebraska |
| 2008 | Rey Maualuga | University of Southern California |
| 2007 | Dan Connor | The Pennsylvania State University |
|
2006 2005 |
Paul Posluszny | The Pennsylvania State University |
| 2004 | David Pollack | University of Georgia |
| 2003 | Teddy Lehman | University of Oklahoma |
| 2002 | E.J. Henderson | University of Maryland |
| 2001 | Julius Peppers | University of North Carolina |
| 2000 | Dan Morgan | Miami University |
| 1999 | LaVar Arrington | Penn State University |
| 1998 | Dat Nguyen | Texas A&M University |