ORLANDO – After leading the Knights in tackles last season, UCF football linebacker Lewis Carter has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
Carter led the Knights in tackles during the 2025 season, tallying a career-high 92 tackles, 52 of which were solo. Tabbed as All-Big 12 Honorable Mention at season’s end, Carter caused problems for opposing offense all season long. He forced a fumble on the first play of the final game of the season, knocking No. 11 BYU back on its opening drive, making way for UCF to pull to an early 14-0 lead. Carter finished the campaign by recording a dozen or more tackles in three of the final four contests, chalking up 13 vs. Houston (Nov. 7), 12 at No. 6 Texas Tech (Nov. 15) and 12 at No. 11 BYU (Nov. 29). Additionally, he finished the year with four games with double-digit tackles, adding 10 in the 34-9 win over North Carolina (Sep. 20).
Carter has already earned a host of preseason nods after being named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention at the end of the 2025 campaign. So far, he’s been named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team, Athlon Sports’ Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team Defense and Shriners Children’s 1,000 Watch List.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2026 campaign are on sale and can be purchased here! Be sure to be a part of all the action as the Knights play their 20th season in Acrisure Bounce House.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.