EVANSTON, Ill. – DB Robert Fitzgerald was named to the 2026 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced today.
Fitzgerald earns the distinction after a breakthrough 2025 campaign, which saw him earn All-Big Ten Second Team honors. He recorded 115 total tackles (70 solo) with 6.0 tackles for loss, an interception, four passes broken up and a fumble recovery. Fitzgerald is the leading Big Ten returning tackler, ranking second in the conference and 25th nationally in total tackles a season ago. His 70 solo stops led the Big Ten and tied for second-most nationally and were the most by a Wildcat since LB Chris Bergin posted 84 in 2021.
The Dallas, Texas native is just one of five Wildcat defensive backs to record 100+ tackles in a season and just one of two DBs to record 70+ solo tackles in a season (since 2005).
Fitzgerald is the fifth Wildcat to earn preseason honors ahead of the 2026 campaign. WR Griffin Wilde (Biletnikoff Award Watch List), K Jackson Kleather (Lou Groza Award Watch List), C Jackson Carsello (Rimington Trophy Watch List) and RB Caleb Komolafe (Maxwell Award Watch List) all received recognition ahead of NU’s season opener against South Dakota State at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Sept. 5.
The Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania before a successful professional career. The Bednarik Award is the final of 16 NCFAA preseason award watch lists to be announced since Aug. 3.