Howell Named Chuck Bednarik Award Finalist
Nov 25, 2025 | Football
PHILADELPHIA– Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell was named a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday.
Howell ranks second nationally and leads the SEC with 11.5 sacks, averaging 1.05 per game, and stands 19th nationally with 13.0 tackles for loss at 1.18 per game. His 11.5 sacks are the most by an Aggie in a season since Myles Garrett posted the same total in 2014. According to Pro Football Focus, Howell has generated 38 quarterback pressures and has produced two or more pressures in nine of 11 games, highlighted by a season-high eight at Arkansas. The Kansas City, Missouri, native leads the nation with six pass breakups among defensive ends.
A four-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honoree in 2025, Howell set a program record after surpassing Tyree Johnson's three weekly awards in 2021. He is the first SEC player to claim the honor four times in a season since 2019, while he is just the sixth SEC player to reach that mark since the award was introduced in 2004.
The redshirt senior has been an anchor for an Aggie defense that ranks No. 1 nationally in 3rd down defense at .220 and No. 2 in FBS with 39.0 sacks, while also ranking top 20 in total defense, 4th down defense and first downs allowed.
Howell is the third Aggie in program history be named a finalist for the national award, joining Garrett in 2016 and 1998 Bednarik Award winner Dat Nguyen.
The winner of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12, 2025. Formal presentations will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. It is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last "60-minute men" for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence and leadership on the field. These are the values the award seeks to recognize in today's top defensive players.
2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Finalists
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, Safety
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, Defensive End
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Linebacker
Howell ranks second nationally and leads the SEC with 11.5 sacks, averaging 1.05 per game, and stands 19th nationally with 13.0 tackles for loss at 1.18 per game. His 11.5 sacks are the most by an Aggie in a season since Myles Garrett posted the same total in 2014. According to Pro Football Focus, Howell has generated 38 quarterback pressures and has produced two or more pressures in nine of 11 games, highlighted by a season-high eight at Arkansas. The Kansas City, Missouri, native leads the nation with six pass breakups among defensive ends.
A four-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honoree in 2025, Howell set a program record after surpassing Tyree Johnson's three weekly awards in 2021. He is the first SEC player to claim the honor four times in a season since 2019, while he is just the sixth SEC player to reach that mark since the award was introduced in 2004.
The redshirt senior has been an anchor for an Aggie defense that ranks No. 1 nationally in 3rd down defense at .220 and No. 2 in FBS with 39.0 sacks, while also ranking top 20 in total defense, 4th down defense and first downs allowed.
Howell is the third Aggie in program history be named a finalist for the national award, joining Garrett in 2016 and 1998 Bednarik Award winner Dat Nguyen.
The winner of the 31st Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12, 2025. Formal presentations will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. It is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, an NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as one of the last "60-minute men" for playing both offense and defense, Bednarik exemplified toughness, excellence and leadership on the field. These are the values the award seeks to recognize in today's top defensive players.
2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Finalists
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, Safety
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, Defensive End
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Linebacker
Players Mentioned
DE
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