Virginia Tech DL Kemari Copeland Named to Bednarik Award Watch List
Virginia Tech defensive tackle Kemari Copeland has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, according to an announcement by the program on social media on August 21, 2026. The recognition marks the fifth major preseason watch list appearance for the Virginia Beach native ahead of the upcoming college football season.
National Recognition for a Dominant Defensive Lineman
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the top college defensive player of the year. Established in 1997, the award has seen two Atlantic Coast Conference players win the honor over the last 15 years: Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald in 2013 and NC State’s Payton Wilson in 2023, according to reports from Sports Illustrated.
Copeland’s inclusion on the Bednarik list follows a series of high-profile nods this offseason. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman has also been tabbed for the Senior Bowl Top 300, the Nagurski Trophy, the Outland Trophy, and the East-West Bowl 1000 watch lists.
Last season, Copeland established himself as a force in the trenches. He recorded 48 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and a team-leading 4.5 sacks en route to earning Third-Team All-ACC honors. His standout performance came on October 24 against California, where he logged three sacks—becoming the first Virginia Tech player to achieve the feat in a single game since his then-position coach, J.C. Price, did so in 1995.
Building Momentum in Blacksburg
Copeland’s journey to Blacksburg involved careful deliberation regarding his collegiate and professional future. Following a stint at Iowa Western Community College, Copeland returned to his home state of Virginia, heavily influenced by his relationship with Brent Pry, who was the only head coach to visit him during his junior college career, according to reporting by Gobbler Country.
“Our relationship is really good,” Copeland said of Pry during the 2026 ACC Kickoff in Charlotte. “When he left, it kind of hurt. When I seen that he was coming back, it was actually huge. I had a chance to go to the NFL. He was actually a huge reason I came back. He’s had top 10, top five defenses when he was a defensive coordinator, so I know that we’ll be really good this year.”
Opting to return for his final campaign rather than entering the 2026 NFL Draft or exploring lucrative transfer portal options, Copeland added necessary mass during the offseason. Standing at approximately 280 pounds last year, he bulked up to 300 pounds following encouragement from head coach James Franklin to boost his professional prospects.
Preparing for the 2026 Campaign
The Hokies defensive anchor holds program records for squat (605 pounds, 10 reps) and for bench press (510 pounds for one rep).
Across the conference, 12 ACC players landed on the initial Bednarik Award Watch List, including Clemson’s Sammy Brown and Ashton Hampton, Florida State’s Ja’Bril Rawls, Louisville’s Clev Lubin, Miami’s Ahmad Moten Sr. and Damon Wilson II, North Carolina’s Melkart Abou Jaoude, Pitt’s Braylan Lovelace, Stanford’s Matt Rose, Virginia’s Kam Robinson, and Wake Forest’s Langston Hardy.
The field will be narrowed by announcing semifinalists on November 10, followed by three finalists on November 24. The winner will be unveiled on December 10 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Virginia Tech opens its 2026 season on Saturday, September 5, hosting VMI at Lane Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET with television coverage provided by the ACC Network.
As the Hokies look to rebound from a difficult 3-9 campaign under previous iterations, the physical presence and leadership of players like Copeland will serve as a foundational anchor for the defense. Whether this early recognition translates into postseason hardware depends entirely on how the trenches hold up through the grueling autumn schedule.