A true freshman, Tank Bigsby has rushed for 503 yards and five touchdowns while putting up three straight 100-plus yard games.
What Tank Bigsby is doing for Auburn as a freshman is getting recognized.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the running back has been added to the Maxwell Award Watch List.
From the press release:
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell.
In six games this season, Bigsby has rushed for 503 yards, the most by a freshman on a Power 5 team, and five touchdowns. A 5-star recruit, he is averaging 7.3 broken tackles per 25 rush attempts.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list for 2020 on Friday.
We expected Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields to appear on a number of preseason award watch lists and that’s just what appears to be happening. He has already been named to the Davey O’Brien preseason watch list, and now he’s also on another one — the Maxwell preseason 2020 watch list.
The Maxwell Award — just like the Heisman — goes to the player judged to be the best all-around in college football annually. It has been awarded since 1937 and is managed by the Maxwell Football Club, which come to think of it, makes a lot of sense.
Fields is no doubt one of the most dynamic returning players in all of college football. He put up some remarkable numbers in just his first year at Ohio State and should be even better with a more in-depth understanding of the offense this fall.
He’s already on the shortlist as a preseason Heisman favorite, so it makes sense that he’s already on the Maxwell’s preseason radar as well.
The Buckeyes have had four Maxwell winners during their history. Howard “hopalong” Cassady won it in 1955, Bob Ferguson in 1961, Archie Griffin in 1975, and Eddie George in 1995.
Alabama’s Najee Harris, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith were all named to the 2020 Maxwell Award Trophy Watch List.
Alabama running back Najee Harris, Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith were all named to the 2020 Maxwell Award Trophy Watch List.
The Maxwell Award Trophy is an annual award given to the collegiate player of they year. It’s also one of the oldest and most prestigious college football awards.
There have been 3 Maxwell award winners in Alabama football history: AJ McCarron in 2013, Derrick Henry in 2015, and Tua Tagovailoa in 2018.
Nov 9, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris (22) runs over LSU Tigers cornerback Kristian Fulton (1) as he carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. LSU won 46-41.
Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s what Alabama has to say about Harris:
“One of the nation’s top running back prospects who passed up the 2020 NFL Draft to return for his senior season … accumulated 2,377 career rushing yards in three seasons to rank 15th all-time at UA … recorded seven career 100-plus yard rushing games, six of which came a season ago … earned the starting tailback role and put together a standout season in 2019 … contributed 20 scores (13 rushing, seven receiving) to tie for fourth in UA single-season ranks for touchdowns scored … totaled 1,224 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 209 carries while adding 27 catches for 304 yards and seven scores as a junior.”
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) eludes Texas A&M defensive back Myles Jones (10) at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on Saturday October 12, 2019. Mickey Welsh / Montgomery Advertiser
Here’s what Alabama has to say about Smith:
“Returns for his senior season, providing the Crimson Tide offense with one of the top big-play threats in all of college football … played in 41 career games with 21 starts to his name … accumulated 2,109 yards and 23 touchdowns on 118 catches in three seasons … averaging 17.9 yards per catch for his career to rank second all-time at Alabama … led the Tide in receiving yards as a junior with 1,256, a total that ranked third in the SEC and tied for eighth in the country … added 14 receiving scores to rank third in the conference and tied for fifth nationally in 2019.”
Nov 30, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) makes a touchdown catch as Auburn Tigers defensive back Javaris Davis (13) defends during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s what Alabama has to say about Waddle:
“Dangerous wideout and returner who is a threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands … started six games and played in 28 total during his two seasons at the Capstone … accumulated 1,408 yards and 13 touchdowns on 78 catches at wideout for his career … added 720 yards and two scores for an average of 20.0 yards per return in the punt game … earned first team All-America honors and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year as a sophomore … led the nation and shattered the former Alabama single-season mark for punt return average at 24.4 yards per return with 20 for 487 yards and a score a year ago … also assumed kickoff returner duties late last season, racking up 175 yards and a touchdown on just five returns … totaled 1,227 all-purpose yards as a sophomore, contributing 560 yards receiving and five yards rushing to go with his kick and punt return totals.”
Another preseason honor for Ian Book, quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame’s senior quarterback Ian Book was honored last week by being included by the Davey O’Brien Award watch list and today he was named to the Maxwell Award watch list. The Maxwell Award is annually given to the Collegiate Player of the Year, as last year Joe Burrow of LSU won the award. Burrow led the Tiger to a College Football Playoff title and was the first selection in the NFL Draft.
Congratulations to @Ian_Book12 on being named to Maxwell award watchlist.
The Irish historically have had success winning the award, as six players have won the award a total of seven times. Halfback Johnny Lattner won the award in back-to-back seasons in 1952 and 1953 (also won the Heisman), making him one of the most decorated Irish football players ever. In more recent times linebacker Manti Te’o won the Maxwell Award in 2012 while the last Irish quarterback to win was Brady Quinn in 2006.
Book will look to build on a very impressive career, as he has led the Irish to back-to-back 11-plus win seasons, and a berth in the College Football Playoff. There will be many eyes on the Notre Dame quarterback this season, and if Book can build upon the success he’s had over the last two years, he could very well bring back the Maxwell Trophy to South Bend.
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask is one of 90 players on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced.
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask is one of 90 players on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Friday. He’s the ninth UF player to be named to a postseason award watch list so far.
He joins 38 other signal-callers nationwide and four from the SEC on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding player. Mississippi State’s K.J. Costello, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, Georgia’s Jamie Newman and Auburn’s Bo Nix are also on the list.
Trask is coming off one of the best passing seasons by a Florida quarterback in the last two decades. After stepping in as the starter for an injured Feleipe Franks in the third game, Trask led the Gators to an 11-2 finish in 2019, throwing for 2,941 yards with 25 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions. He had a passer rating of 156.09, the ninth-best mark in school history and the highest since Tim Tebow achieved a 164.2 rating in 2009.
The 2020 Maxwell Award’s winner is set to be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10.
