Initial Maxwell Award watch list set

2012 major award watch lists   

PHILADELPHIA – The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch lists Monday for the 76th annual Maxwell Award, given to America’s outstanding collegiate football player since 1937 and  named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell. 

Members of the initial watch lists cross a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast. Returning Maxwell Award semifinalists from 2011 include USC QB Matt Barkley, Clemson QB Tajh Boyd, Oklahoma QB Landry Jones and USC WR Robert Woods. No program has more athletes on this year’s Maxwell Award watch list than USC, which is also represented by WR Marqise Lee and RB Curtis McNeal.

The 2011 Maxwell Award winner, Stanford QB Andrew Luck made himself available for the 2012 NFL Draft, where he was selected No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.  

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Oct. 29, and the three finalists will be announced Nov. 19. The winner of the 2012 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 6. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in Atlantic City on March 1.

The watch list candidates were chosen by the Maxwell Football Club’s selection committee, which evaluates past performance and future potential. The club will make additions and deletions to the list as the 2012 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club along with collegiate sports information directors, head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for the awards.