Tag: Maxwell Award

UNC star Omarion Hampton one of just 16 nominated for prestigious POTY Award

Omarion Hampton is one of the best players in college football. You’ll want to see which award list he recently landed on.

It’s no secret that Omarion Hampton is the centerpiece of the UNC football team’s offensive attack, particularly since it shifted to a run-first attack with Drake Maye’s NFL departure.

Hampton, the in-state junior from Clayton, is currently enjoying his second-consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. Hampton is riding a 7-game streak of 100-yard rushing attacks, including his second-career 200-yard performance against NC Central.

With how dominant of a back Hampton is, it shouldn’t surprise you that he’s in-line for yet another award.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Hampton was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award. According to its official website, the Maxwell Award is annually “presented to the Outstanding Collegiate Player of the Year.

You’ll probably recognize several other names on the Maxwell Award Semifinalist list: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, FBS rushing yardage leader Ashton Jeanty, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, Miami (FL) Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke, Army QB Bryson Daly and Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo.

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Since taking over the starting role from British Brooks early in North Carolina’s 2023 campaign, Hampton has done nothing but showcase why he’s one of the country’s top backs. Hampton’s fresh off easily his best game in a Tar Heel uniform, in which he totaled 263 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns.

Hampton has 3,083 rushing yards and 34 rushing touchdowns in his UNC career. He continues climbing up North Carolina’s all-time yardage leaderboard – and will go down as arguably the program’s best back of the 21st century.

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Iowa star named Maxwell Award semifinalist

Say hello to the Maxwell Award semifinalist.

In the middle of a career year with the Hawkeyes, junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been named as a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award. The award is presented to college football’s Player of the Year as voted by the Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors, and selected national media.

Johnson, who is Iowa’s first Maxwell Award semifinalist since quarterback Ricky Stanzi in 2010, is having a record-breaking year for the Hawkeyes with a school-record 126 points scored on 21 total touchdowns.

In terms of his running game, Johnson’s 20 rushing touchdowns ties Shonn Greene’s single-season record set in 2008. Johnson’s 1,328 rushing yards in 10 games this season currently ranks second nationally and is already the seventh-most in program history.

Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Award began Tuesday and will close on Nov. 23. Three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 26, and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time.

In addition to being named as a Maxwell Award semifinalist, Johnson was also added to the Doak Walker Award Watch List.

Iowa is one of seven schools to have at least one Maxwell and Bednarik Award semifinalist (Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas). Hawkeye linebacker Jay Higgins was selected as a Bednarik Award semifinalist, which goes to the most outstanding defensive player.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) is currently on its bye week and returns to play against the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, Nov. 23, from SECU Stadium in College Park, Md.

Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network as well as the Hawkeye Radio Network.

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Alabama star freshman Ryan Williams named to Maxwell Award watch list

The freshman joins Jalen Milroe on the watch list.

After a stellar start to his collegiate career, star Alabama Crimson Tide true freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams was officially named to the 2024 Maxwell Award midseason watch list on Thursday afternoon.

Williams joins fellow Alabama teammate Jalen Milroe, as the Crimson Tide quarterback was named to the watch list back in the preseason.

So far this season, Williams has been Alabama’s No. 1 option at the wide receiver position, hauling in 23 receptions for 576 yards and a SEC-leading six touchdowns. Williams also leads college football in yards per catch with 25.0, and enters Week 8 ranking No. 2 in the SEC in receiving yards.

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the top overall player in college football, and is a honor that Alabama has won five times before. Those were A.J. McCarron (2013), Derrick Henry (2015), Tua Tagovailoa (2018), DeVonta Smith (2020), and Bryce Young (2021).

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Kalen DeBoer also had the award’s winner a year ago, as Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took home the honor in 2023.

Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard makes Golden Arm Award Watch List

Nice honor for Riley.

Notre Dame has had a trend for most of this decade of bringing in transfer upperclassmen to be the quarterback for the upcoming season. That will happen again in 2024 with former Duke quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag]. All indications are that he will have a fine season for the Irish, and we just got one more of those.

Leonard is one of 63 quarterbacks who has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. This award is given to the best upperclassmen quarterback in college football. Leonard getting the hardware would make it the third such instance for an Irish quarterback, joining [autotag]Tony Rice[/autotag] in 1989 and [autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag] in 2006.

Leonard also has been named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given to college football’s best player and has been won by Irish players seven times. Simply put, he will be counted on heavily in 2024, so we’ll see how well he deals with that pressure.

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Miller Moss needs to carry his off-field poise onto the gridiron in 2024

Miller Moss is an impressive person. Now, can he become an impressive quarterback?

USC quarterback Miller Moss was named to 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List on Monday, as you might have read or heard. Moss was one of 80 players across college football named to the Maxwell Award Watch List. USC has had four Maxwell Award winners: O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen and Caleb Williams. Moss would love to join this exclusive club, but the main thing is that he leads USC to a successful season and moves the program forward to a significant degree.

In his 3-year career at USC, Moss has played in 12 games but has started just once. That came in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville when he completed 23 of his 33 passes for 372 yards and six touchdowns in the final game of the 2023 season. His six touchdowns were a program record.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 26, 2024. The winners of the 88th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Awards are great, but team success comes first. Miller Moss is an impressive, soft-spoken, and eloquent young man. His presence in the room commands respect. Can Moss take that poised presence off the field and bring it onto the gridiron in pressure-filled moments? That will be a central and defining test of his time at USC.

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Miller Moss named to Maxwell Award watch list

Miller Moss gets preseason recognition.

USC Trojan quarterback Miller Moss was named to the 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List for the award that goes to college football’s best player each year.

Miller Moss has waited patiently behind Jaxson Dart in 2021 and then the past two years backing up Caleb Williams. 

In his three-year run at USC, Moss is 66-for-92 (71.7% completions) for 914 yards with 9 TDs. He rushed for 27 yards on 10 attempts in 12 games with one start. He holds the record for most TD passes thrown in a Holiday Bowl game (6), the most TD passes thrown in a USC bowl game, and the most TD passes from USC quarterback in his first start with the program. He tied the Pac-12 gowl game passing TD record with that same display against Louisville, a remarkable first start for any college football player, anywhere and anytime.

Miller will try to become USC’s fifth Maxwell Award recipient, joining O.J. Simpson (1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), and Caleb Williams (2022). That’s select company. What matters most is that Moss guides the USC offense well and enables the offensive unit to reach its full potential in 2024.

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe named to Maxwell Award watchlist

Alabama starting quarterback Jalen Milroe has been named to the Maxwell Award watchlist. Milroe is considered to be one of the top players in college football.

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe was recently named to the Maxwell Award watchlist. The award recognizes the best all-around player in college football.

Milroe was one of several bright spots on the Alabama roster a season ago. The native of Katy, Texas persevered after some early struggles and became one of the top quarterbacks in the country. As a redshirt sophomore, Milroe passed for 2,834 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. In addition, Milroe rushed for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns.

As he enters his redshirt junior season in Tuscaloosa, Milroe is already being tabbed as a potential first-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft. He possesses the necessary skill set to thrive at the college and professional levels.

The fact that Milroe was named to the Maxwell Award watchlist isn’t something that should be taken lightly. It is one of many things that Milroe can place at the forefront of his mind as he looks to lead the Crimson Tide to a national title during the 2024-2025 season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program.

Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List

Sophomore Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman was named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List on Monday

Football season is creeping up on us, and preseason watchlists are starting to drop. On Monday, sophomore Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman was named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. Every Year, the award is voted on by a committee and given to the top College Player of the Year.

The award was named in honor of Robert ‘Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official. The award will be announced on December 12, 2024, with the official presentation taking place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia

Below are Conner Weigman’s career stats:

Games Played: 9

Passing: Pct – 61.8 / Yds – 1875 / TD – 16 / Int – 2

Rushing: Att – 39 / Yds – 160 / Avg – 4.1 / TD – 2

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Nico Iamaleava named to Maxwell Award watch list

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava named to 2024 Maxwell Award watch list.

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was named to the 88th Maxwell Award Watch List on Monday.

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player in the country. He is one of 80 student-athletes named to the 2024 preseason list.

Iamaleava appeared in five games for the Vols as freshman last season. He completed 28-of-45 passing attempts for 314 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound signal-caller also recorded 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts.

Peyton Manning is the only Tennessee player to win the Maxwell Award (1997).

PHOTOS: A look at Peyton Manning through the years

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Ohio State football has 3 players on the Maxwell Award watchlist

Only three Buckeyes?!?

Now that the Big Ten media day’s are in the rear view mirror, Ohio State football can now focus on getting ready for the start of the season.

With that comes award watch lists, and the [autotag]Maxwell Award[/autotag] announced its 2024 watchlist on Monday. Three Buckeyes made the list: quarterback [autotag]Will Howard[/autotag], running back [autotag]Quinshon Judkins[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Emeka Egbuka[/autotag].

The annual award given out to the best all-around player in college football did have one notable Ohio State omission, running back [autotag]TreVeyon Henderson[/autotag]. The committee most likely had to pick just one of the Buckeye running backs, but in reality, both should be on there.

It’s worth noting that former Ohio State quarterbacks Quinn Ewers (Texas) and Kyle McCord (Syracuse) both made the list as well. Hopefully it’s one of the current Buckeyes who takes home this award.

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