Two Tigers named as National Award Semi-finalists

by Press Release - Tue Oct 29 14:04:50 GMT-04:00 2019

PHILADELPHIA — Maxwell Football Club President, Mark Dianno, announced the 2019 semifinalists for the 83rd Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year and the 25th Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The respective lists include a field of 20 candidates for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards as selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee. The Maxwell Football Club has once again teamed with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed statistical and performance based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts have been added to the selection committee and have participated in the process. Phil Steele’s Football Guide is generally recognized as the most complete football reference in the country.

A strong field of Maxwell Award semifinalists includes a representative from every Power Five conference as well as one student-athlete from a Group of Five school. The 2018 Maxwell Award winner Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) leads an impressive list of returnees which includes Justin Herbert (Oregon), Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin), Zack Moss (Utah), AJ Dillon (Boston College) and Travis Etienne (Clemson).

On the defensive side of the ball, the field of contenders is comprised of fresh faces, all of whom are making their debuts as Bednarik Award semifinalists. Six different conferences are represented, led by six student-athletes from the SEC and five from the Big Ten.

Last season, the Maxwell Award was presented to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Bednarik Award went to Kentucky defensive end Josh Allen. Tagovailoa has returned for his junior season at Alabama and has led the Crimson Tide to an 8-0 record this season. Allen was a first round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars and has posted 7 sacks thus far during his rookie campaign.

2019 MAXWELL AWARD SEMIFINALISTS

WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

DT Derrick Brown, Auburn

QB Charlie Brewer, Baylor

RB AJ Dillon, Boston College

RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

RB Cam Akers, Florida State

RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia

QB Joe Burrow, LSU

QB Justin Fields, Ohio State

DE Chase Young, Ohio State

QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

WR KJ Hamler, Penn State

QB Shane Buechele, SMU

QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas

RB Zack Moss, Utah

RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

2019 CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD SEMIFINALISTS

S Xavier McKinney, Alabama

DT Derrick Brown, Auburn

DE Curtis Weaver , Boise State

LB Evan Weaver, Cal

LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

NG Marvin Wilson, Florida State

S J.R. Reed, Georgia

CB Derek Stingley, LSU

CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State

DE Chase Young, Ohio State

DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma

LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State

LB Micah Parsons, Penn State

DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

DL Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M

LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech

DE Bradlee Anae, Utah

LB David Woodward, Utah State

DE Zack Baun, Wisconsin

Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Wednesday Oct. 30 and will close on Nov. 24. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 25 and a second round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school with the player’s school, position and class designated.

The winners of the 83rd Maxwell Award and the 25th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show presented by Gildanwhich will be broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 12, 2019. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club’s Awards Dinner on Friday, March 6, 2020