Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace is among 76 players named to the preseason watch list for the 77th annual Maxwell Award, as announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.
The award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
A junior and former JUCO national player of the year, Wallace passed for the third-most yards (2,994) and fourth-most touchdowns (22) in Ole Miss history last year en route to capturing the C Spire Conerly Trophy as the state’s top collegiate player. The Pulaski, Tenn., native finished top five in the SEC in points, total offense and passing yards in his first season in Oxford.
Eli Manning is the only Rebel to have won the Maxwell Award. He received the honor in 2003.
Returning Maxwell Award semifinalists from 2012 include Clemson QB Tajh Boyd, USC WR Marqise Lee, Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, Alabama QB AJ McCarron, Ohio State QB Braxton Miller and Oregon RB De’Anthony Thomas. The list also showcases six defensive players, and for the first time in Award history three offensive linemen, Michigan OT Taylor Lewan, Texas A&M OT Jake Matthews and Stanford OG David Yankey. Defending National Champion Alabama is the most represented program, with RB T.J. Yeldon, WR Amari Cooper and LB C.J. Mosley joining McCarron.
Last season, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o became the first defensive player to win the Maxwell Award since Pittsburgh DE Hugh Green in 1980. In the 2013 NFL Draft, Te’o was selected in the second round by the San Diego Chargers, and is expected to start as a rookie.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Oct. 29, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 25. The winner of the 2013 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12. The formal presentations will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City on March 7, 2014.
The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s selection committee, which analyzes both past performance and future potential. The Club reserves the right to make additions and deletions to these lists as the 2013 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, FBS head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for the awards.
