Jones Named Bednarik Award Semifinalist

Mississippi State senior defensive back Kelley Jones is among the Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalists for the 2026 season.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Football

Maxwell Football Club named Mississippi State senior defensive back Kelley Jones a 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist. Jones, in his fourth year with the Bulldogs and second as a full-time starter on defense, is among the candidates for the national defensive award.

Why it matters

The semifinalist designation places Jones among the leading defensive players in college football for the 2026 season. For Mississippi readers, it highlights a Mississippi State defender recognized on a national stage.

Jones has recorded 33 tackles and seven pass breakups this season, allowing a 51.9% completion rate on throws into his coverage with no touchdown passes allowed. In his best outing, against Missouri, he was targeted six times, allowed two completions for 12 yards and broke up four passes.

The players

Kelley Jones

Kelley Jones is a senior defensive back for Mississippi State in his fourth year with the Bulldogs, and he has become a full-time starter on defense.

Maxwell Football Club

Maxwell Football Club is the Philadelphia-based organization that presents the Chuck Bednarik Award to college football's top defensive player.

The details

Maxwell Football Club, which administers the Chuck Bednarik Award, named Jones a semifinalist. The club will announce three finalists on November 24, and the winner will be revealed during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

November 10, 2026: Maxwell Football Club names Jones a semifinalist.
November 24, 2026: Three Bednarik Award finalists to be announced.
December 10, 2026: Bednarik Award winner revealed during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

Season Trajectory

Semifinalist recognition for a Mississippi State defender places Jones among the candidates the Bednarik committee will narrow to three finalists. The stage-by-stage selection process means his standing will be clearer after the November 24 finalist announcement.

Jones's semifinalist status shapes how Mississippi State fans and fantasy managers track his remaining season. The next concrete checkpoint is the November 24 finalist list, which will show whether he advances in the award process.

The takeaway

Semifinalist recognition signals that Jones's season has drawn national attention for defensive play. Fans following Mississippi State football can watch the November 24 finalist announcement to see if his standing advances.

What happens next

Maxwell Football Club will announce three Bednarik Award finalists on November 24, 2026, and the winner will be revealed December 10, 2026, during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.