In one of the surest signs that the college football season is quickly — or not so quickly, depending on your level of anticipation — gaining on us, one of the most prestigious awards in the game has released its 2011 watch list.
The Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday morning the 66-person-strong watch list for the 75th edition of the Maxwell Award. Not included in that list is last year’s winner Cam Newton, who left Auburn a year early and ultimately become the number one-overall pick in the April NFL draft.
There are, however, returning semifinalists for the 2010 award, including Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles, Baylor QB Robert Griffin, Oregon RB LaMichael James, Stanford QB Andrew Luck, Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez, Boise State QB Kellen Moore, and Michigan QB Denard Robinson.
Conference-wise, the SEC tops all leagues with 12 players on the list, followed closely by the Pac-12 (11) and the Big Ten (10). The Big 12 was next with eight, followed by the ACC and Mountain West with six and five players, respectively.
Both the Big East and Conference USA totaled four players apiece. Incidentally, the former receives an automatic BcS bid while the latter, as well as the MWC, doesn’t.
The Maxwell Award has been given to America’s outstanding collegiate football player since 1937 and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell. Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Oct. 31 and the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 21. The winner will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 8th.
Here’s the complete watch list courtesy of the Maxwell Football Club:
What, no Gators?
There are 8 candidates from the Big 12, not 6.
3 from Texas A&M
2 from OU
2 from OSU
1 from Baylor
You are absolutely correct. Excellent catch and the correction has been made.
Thanks for the heads up.
Shocked that Jeff Godfrey from UCF not on this list. 2nd highest passer rating by a freshman last year, threat to break a long run on every play, conference title and a bowl win. BIG OMISSION!
Hey John, just wondering, has a freshman ever been named to the list? I’m guessing most are on there due to their performance from the prior season, but some of these kids nowadays come in so hyped, I’m almost surprised none listed are first year players. Do you happen to know?
@florida727: that’s a very good question for which I don’t have a 100-percent certain answer, although I would think there’s never been a true freshman on the initial watch list. Now, when these awards “update” once the season begins and are pared them down to semifinalists and finalists? Absolutely.