Wisconsin starts training camp in advance of the 2023 season in the coming days. That signals many things, one of which: it’s time for the influx of preseason watch lists.
Wisconsin had two players named to the Maxwell Award watch list on Monday morning: quarterback Tanner Mordecai and running back Braelon Allen.
The Maxwell Award goes out annually to the best all-around player in college football. Notable recent winners include USC’s Caleb Williams in 2022, Alabama’s Bryce Young in 2021, DeVonta Smith in 2020, LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2019 and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa in 2018. There has been one Wisconsin Badger to win the award: running back Ron Dayne in 1999.
Cookin’ ⏳@t_mordecai | @BraelonAllen pic.twitter.com/MtBk2F3BB4
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 31, 2023
Mordecai and Allen enter 2023 with the potential to be one of the more prolific quarterback–running back duos in the sport. Given the nature of Phil Longo’s offense, most of the team’s production on that side of the ball will come from these two players.
If Longo’s attack is as-advertised and the Badgers make a miracle run to the College Football Playoff, we could see one of Allen or Mordecai as a finalist to win the award.