News/Commentary

Semifinalists Announced For Maxwell and Bednarik Awards

October 29, 2019 by Rich Cirminiello, MaxwellFootballClub.org

NOTE: CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a voting member of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards.

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

Last Name First Name Position School Class
Jeudy Jerry WR Alabama Junior
Tagovailoa Tua QB Alabama Junior
Brown Derrick DT Auburn Senior
Brewer Charlie QB Baylor Junior
Dillon AJ RB Boston College Junior
Etienne Travis RB Clemson Junior
Akers Cam RB Florida State Junior
Swift D'Andre RB Georgia Junior
Burrow Joe QB LSU Senior
Fields Justin QB Ohio State Sophomore
Young Chase DE Ohio State Junior
Hurts Jalen QB Oklahoma Senior
Lamb CeeDee WR Oklahoma Junior
Hubbard Chuba RB Oklahoma State Sophomore
Herbert Justin QB Oregon Senior
Hamler KJ WR Penn State Sophomore
Buechele Shane QB SMU Senior
Ehlinger Sam QB Texas Junior
Moss Zack RB Utah Senior
Taylor Jonathan RB Wisconsin Junior

2019 Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists

Last Name First Name Position School Class
McKinney Xavier S Alabama Junior
Brown Derrick DT Auburn Senior
Weaver Curtis DE Boise State Junior
Weaver Evan LB Cal Senior
Simmons Isaiah LB Clemson Junior
Wilson Marvin NG Florida State Junior
Reed J.R. S Georgia Senior
Stingley Derek CB LSU Freshman
Okudah Jeffrey CB Ohio State Junior
Young Chase DE Ohio State Junior
Gallimore Neville DT Oklahoma Senior
Murray Kenneth LB Oklahoma Junior
Gross-Matos Yetur DE Penn State Junior
Parsons Micah LB Penn State Sophomore
Kinlaw Javon DT South Carolina Senior
Madubuike Justin DL Texas A&M Junior
Brooks Jordyn LB Texas Tech Senior
Anae Bradlee DE Utah Senior
Woodward David LB Utah State Junior
Baun Zack DE Wisconsin Senior

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 Gildan which 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 at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.