Florida’s Defensive Powerhouses: Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp Secure Spots on 2025 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
The Florida Gators have good reason to stand tall heading into the 2025 college football season, particularly on the defensive front. Among the most compelling stories fuelled by preseason buzz is the recognition of two Gators stalwarts: defensive tackle Caleb Banks and edge defender Tyreak Sapp. Both have earned coveted spots on the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list—an honor bestowed on players who exemplify elite defensive performance, leadership, and impact. This nod not only underscores their individual excellence but also casts a bright light on Florida’s defensive ambitions in the upcoming campaign.
Consider Caleb Banks first. A fifth-year senior, Banks has evolved into one of the nation’s most disruptive interior linemen. In 2024, he delivered a standout season: 21 tackles (10 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery over 12 games. His presence in key moments—especially against LSU and Ole Miss—made him a match-up nightmare. According to ESPN, Banks “shined during Florida’s signature home wins … recording 3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovered” across those pivotal games.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) further lauded Banks for his consistent pressure-prone dominance, noting that he led all returning Power Four interior defenders with 53 pressures over the previous two seasons and maintained a pressure rate of 12.7%, second among returning defensive tackles nationwide. His combination of length, burst, and pass‑rush consistency caught the eyes of NFL scouts looking ahead to the 2026 draft (SI).
Now, Tyreak Sapp features at a different point on the defensive front—but his impact is every bit as tangible. A veteran edge rusher returning for his fifth year, Sapp led the team in sacks (seven) and tackles for loss (13) during the 2024 season, amassing 48 yards lost for opposing offenses . His 90.4 overall grade was not only the highest on the Florida roster, but also ranked eighth among all FBS edge rushers and fifth in the SEC—marking the highest PFF grade for any Gator defender since 2019.
Sapp’s strengths are multidimensional. PFF rankings place him as the second-highest-graded returning edge in all of college football and the highest in the SEC (SI). His run-defense grade (88.7) ranked fourth among FBS edge players, while his pass-rush grade (82.2) demonstrated effectiveness in both phases. Key performances—like his final-season stretch against LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State—saw Sapp record eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 16 tackles, reaffirming his reputation as a clutch performer.
Their dual recognition on the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list is a memorable first step in a season brimming with opportunity. The Bednarik Award, established in 1995 and named after legendary Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik, is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player in NCAA Division I college football—an honor that signifies excellence, durability, and elite-level impact.
Florida Football publicized the nomination on August 11, 2025, confirming both Banks and Sapp among the list of contenders for the award. This distinction places them among a national elite group of defenders poised to make a real impact in 2025.
But beyond the awards hype lies the larger narrative: what their performances represent for the Gators’ defense, and the weight they carry within the team’s renewed expectations.
Florida’s defensive identity is being retooled. With high-profile returners like Banks anchoring the interior and Sapp terrorizing edges, the Gators hope to rise from the shadows of inconsistency to become one of the SEC’s most fearsome units. Their preseason Bednarik nods offer a blueprint for that revival: disruptively physical play coupled with elite technique and situational dominance.
Banks offers the paint-scratching havoc up front, a force who stacks guards and crashes pockets. Sapp patrols the edge, capable of both stuffing the run and collapsing the quarterback. Together, they form the core of a front seven that can apply pressure from all angles—disrupting offensive rhythm and flipping field position in critical moments.
Individually, this recognition also serves as a key moment for their professional aspirations. For Banks, NFL scouts are already enamored with his pressure volume and athletic profile. A high ceiling remains, underscored by his constant presence on national draft boards. For Sapp, his return rather than entering the 2025 NFL Draft signals both team-first mentality and a desire to cement a dominant final collegiate season before turning pro.
The impact on the Gators is equally significant. Their leadership, on-field excellence, and consistent production set a standard for teammates to follow. Coach Billy Napier, entering Year Four with momentum building, now has a defensive foundation bolstered by two game-changing veterans. The kind of edge presence and interior disruption they provide is rare; having both return and thrive augurs well for Florida’s playoff ambitions.
On the broader college football canvas, Bednarik watch-list status puts Banks and Sapp in an echelon that includes many of the nation’s best defenders—a powerful signal for opponents and analysts alike: Florida’s defense is for real, and the Gators are ready to reclaim respect in the SEC.
That said, preseason accolades are only a narrative prologue. As the season unfolds, consistency, health, and performance in marquee games will determine whether Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp truly become Bednarik contenders. Their 2024 numbers answer the “why”—the challenge now lies in sustaining and elevating those numbers when the games matter most.
Whether through run-stuffs that change fourth downs, pressures that crumble offensive lines, or changes that ignite defensive momentum—Banks and Sapp are positioned to tell the story of the Gators’ resurgence in 2025. Their inclusion on the Bednarik watch list is both recognition of prior excellence and a call to lead anew.
In sum, their dual selections to the Bednarik preseason watch list speaks volumes about Florida’s defensive potential—anchored by interior disruption from Banks and edge terror from Sapp, both returning with proven playmaking and leadership. As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on them—not just as award candidates, but as the heart of a defense tasked with returning Florida to national relevance.
