The Maxwell Football Club on Monday announced the three 2019 finalists for both 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.
Each list of three college football players contains a tie to the Yellowhammer State.
First, senior Auburn University defensive lineman Derrick Brown was named a finalist for the Bednarik Award, along with Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Ohio State defensive end Chase Young.
A release from the Maxwell Football Club stated, “Brown has been one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the country this season. He has 4 sacks for 29 yards in losses, 43 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 4 pass breakups. He regularly forces offenses to account for him with two or three blockers and generally wreaks havoc in the middle of the line. The Auburn Tiger standout is considered to be one of the most disruptive middle players in college football.”
Monday marked a big day for Brown, whose season has already landed him on several semifinalist and finalist lists, including being an Outland Trophy finalist and a Wuerffel Trophy finalist.
The Wuerffel Trophy, presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation, is known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.” The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s best college interior lineman on offense or defense.
Then, former University of Alabama star quarterback Jalen Hurts was named to the Maxwell Award finalist list, along with LSU QB Joe Burrow and Young — the only player named to both lists.
“Hurts played his first three seasons at Alabama and helped Crimson Tide to 41-3 record (26-2 mark as a starter in 2016 and ’17). A graduate transfer, Hurts immediately stepped in as the Sooner quarterback and has completed 71 percent of his passes, going 192-of-269 for 3,184 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 1,156 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading the Sooners to a 10-1 record and a No. 7 national ranking. He is arguably the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback in college football this season,” the release said.
Last season, the Maxwell Award went to Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Bednarik Award was presented to Kentucky defensive end Josh Allen.
The winners of both awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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