Two Alabama players have been added to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday. The preseason list was comprised of players selected based on their 2017 performances. As the 2018 college football season has progressed, the club “believes several additional players warrant attention because of their noteworthy play.”

Redshirt junior safety Deionte Thompson and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were among 10 defensive players added to the Bednarik Award’s watch list. Washington was the only other team with two players (Ben Burr-Kirven and Byron Murphy).

The duo joins Crimson Tide linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Mack Wilson and defensive end Raekwon Davis on the watch list. That Bednarik Award is annually presented to Defensive Player of the Year at the college level. Last year, Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick won the award, and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen took it home a season earlier in 2016.

In 2018, Thompson has recorded a team-leading 35 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss (-2 yards). The Orange, Texas, native has also collected five pass breakups, is tied for the team lead with two interceptions, totaling 65 return yards and has added one forced fumble to his 2018 stats. Thompson was selected as one of the Alabama coaching staff’s defensive players of the week for his play against Louisville, Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Williams has totaled 5.5 tackles for loss (-18 yards) and six quarterback hurries to go with a pass breakup. He has added 22 tackles and half of a sack to his 2018 stat line. The third-year defensive lineman was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play in Orlando against Louisville and was selected as one of the defensive players of the week by the Alabama coaching staff for his efforts against Louisville, Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of the 1969 College Football Hall of Fame induction and 1967 Pro Football Hall of Famer, Chuck Bednarik.

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Oct. 29 and the three finalists will be revealed Nov. 19. The winner of the 2018 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be held Dec. 6 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. A formal presentation will be made on March 8, 2019.

The watch list candidate were chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s selection committee. The Maxwell Club reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to this list as the 2018 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, head coaches and selected national media are also eligible to vote for the award.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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