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Established in 1937, the Maxwell Award is one of the most prestigious honors in college football. It is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the sport, recognizing excellence on the field and exceptional contributions to the game. The award is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a distinguished sportswriter and influential figure in college football. Maxwell's deep passion for the sport and his insightful commentary helped shape the public's perception and appreciation of college football during his career.

Robert "Tiny" Maxwell was renowned for his engaging writing and extensive coverage of football, which brought the sport closer to its fans and enhanced its visibility. His dedication to the game and his unique ability to capture its essence in words left a lasting impact on both players and spectators. The Maxwell Award serves as a tribute to his legacy by celebrating players who exemplify the skill, sportsmanship, and dedication that Maxwell valued.

Robert "Tiny" Maxwell
Robert "Tiny" Maxwell's portrait (left) at the College Football Hall of Fame. The Maxwell Award and Maxwell Football Club's namesake was inducted in 1974. Maxwell had his picture featured in a Chicago newspaper in 1904 (right).
Auburn QB Cam Newton holding the Maxwell Award Trophy with then-MFC President and former Philadelphia Eagles QB Ron Jaworski
Former Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski (left) with Tony Dungy (right), winner of the 1996 Greasy Neale Award, at the 1997 Maxwell Awards Gala in Philadelphia, PA.


The Maxwell Award, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award, is prominently featured on the annual ESPN College Football Awards Show. This recognition highlights the award's significance and ensures that the achievements of the sport's top players are celebrated on a national stage.

The award's rich history is a testament to its importance in college football. Each year, the recipient of the Maxwell Award is honored not just for their athletic prowess but also for their embodiment of the qualities that Maxwell admired. The award continues to uphold Maxwell’s vision of recognizing exceptional talent and contributions to the sport, ensuring that his influence endures in the celebration of college football's brightest stars.

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Since the Maxwell Award was established in 1937, there have only been two recipients to receive the award twice. Notre Dame HB Johnny Lattner received the Maxwell Award in 1952 and 1953, and Florida QB Tim Tebow received the Bednarik Award in 2007 and 2008.

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2023 MAXWELL AWARD WINNER


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Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. receiving the 2023 Maxwell Award Trophy at the 2024 Maxwell Awards Gala held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, GA.
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Penix Jr. has had a remarkable season for the Huskies, leading Washington to an undefeated season and a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Huskies are back in the playoff for the first time since after the 2016 season as Penix has completed 307-of-466 passes for 4,218 yards. He’s also thrown 33 TDs and nine interceptions. In addition to the Maxwell honor, Penix Jr. was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

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BY THE NUMBERS

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MAXWELL TROPHY COUNT

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2023 - MICHAEL PENIX JR., QB, WASHINGTON
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
2022 - CALEB WILLIAMS, QB, USC
USC QB Caleb Williams
2021 - BRYCE YOUNG, QB, ALABAMA
Alabama QB Bryce Young at the 2022 Maxwell Awards Gala
2020 - DEVONTA SMITH, WR, ALABAMA
Alabama WR DeVonta Smith in 2020, the year he received the Maxwell Award
2019 - JOE BURROW, QB, LSU
LSU QB Joe Burrow at the 2019 ESPN College Football Awards Show
2018 - TUA TAGOVAILOA, QB, ALABAMA
Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa in 2018, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2017 - BAKER MAYFIELD, QB, OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield at the 2018 Maxwell Awards Gala
2016 - LAMAR JACKSON, QB, LOUISVILLE
Louisville QB Lamar Jackson in 2016, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2015 - DERRICK HENRY, RB, ALABAMA
Alabama RB Derrick Henry in 2015, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2014 - MARCUS MARIOTA, QB, OREGON
Oregon QB Marcus Mariota in 2014, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2013 - AJ MCCARRON, QB, ALABAMA
Alabama QB AJ McCarron in 2013, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2012 - MANTI TE'O, LB, NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o in 2012, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2011 - ANDREW LUCK, QB, STANFORD
Stanford QB Andrew Luck in 2011, teh year he won the Maxwell Award
2010 - CAM NEWTON, QB, AUBURN
Auburn QB Cam Newton in 2010, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2009 - COLT MCCOY, QB, TEXAS
Texas QB Colt McCoy in 2009, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2008 - TIM TEBOW, QB, FLORIDA
Florida QB Tim Tebow in 2008, the year he won his second Maxwell Award
2007 - TIM TEBOW, QB, FLORIDA
Florida QB Tim Tebow in 2007, the year he won his first Maxwell Award
2006 - BRADY QUINN, QB, NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn in 2006, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2005 - VINCE YOUNG, QB, TEXAS
Texas QB Vince Young in 2005, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2004 - JASON WHITE, QB, OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma QB Jason White in 2004, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2003 - ELI MANNING, QB, OLE MISS
Ole Miss QB Eli Manning in 2003, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2002 - LARRY JOHNSON, RB, PENN STATE
Penn State RB Larry Johnson in 2002, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2001 - KEN DORSEY, QB, MIAMI
Miami QB Ken Dorsey in 2001, the year he won the Maxwell Award
2000 - DREW BREES, QB, PURDUE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1999 - RON DAYNE, RB, WISCONSIN
Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne in 1999, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1998 - RICKY WILLIAMS, RB, TEXAS
Texas RB Ricky Williams, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1997 - PEYTON MANNING, QB, TENNESSEE
Tennessee QB Peyton Manning in 1997, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1996 - DANNY WUERFFEL, QB, FLORIDA
Danny Wuerffel in 1996, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1995 - EDDIE GEORGE, RB, OHIO STATE
Ohio State RB Eddie George in 1995, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1994 - KERRY COLLINS, QB, PENN STATE
Penn State QB Kerry Collins in 1994, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1993 - CHARLIE WARD, QB, FLORIDA STATE
Florida State QB Charlie Ward in 1993, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1992 - GINO TORRETTA, QB, MIAMI
Miami QB Gino Torretta in 1992, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1991 - DESMOND HOWARD, WR, MICHIGAN
Michigan WR Desmond Howard in 1991, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1990 - TY DETMER, QB, BYU
BYU QB Ty Detmer in 1990, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1989 - ANTHONY THOMPSON, RB, INDIANA
Indiana RB Anthony Thompson in 1989, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1988 - BARRY SANDERS, RB, OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State RB Barry Sanders in 1988, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1987 - DON MCPHERSON, QB, SYRACUSE
Syracuse QB Don McPherson in 1987, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1986 - VINNY TESTAVERDE, QB, MIAMI
Miami QB Vinny Testaverde, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1985 - CHUCK LONG, QB, IOWA
Iowa QB Chuck Long in 1985, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1984 - DOUG FLUTIE, QB, BOSTON COLLEGE
Boston College QB Doug Flutie in 1984, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1983 - MIKE ROZIER, RB, NEBRASKA
Nebraska RB Mike Rozier in 1983, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1982 - HERSCHEL WALKER, RB, GEORGIA
Georgia RB Herschel Walker in 1982, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1981 - MARCUS ALLEN, RB, USC
USC RB Marcus Allen in 1981, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1980 - HUGH GREEN, DE, PITT
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1979 - CHARLES WHITE, RB, USC
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1978 - CHARLES FUSINA, QB, PENN STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1977 - ROSS BROWNER, DE, NOTRE DAME
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1976 - TONY DORSETT, RB, PITT
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1975 - ARCHIE GRIFFIN, RB, OHIO STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1974 - STEVE JOACHIM, QB, TEMPLE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1973 - JOHN CAPPELLETTI, RB, PENN STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1972 - BRAD VAN PELT, LB, MICHIGAN STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1971 - ED MARINARO, RB, CORNELL
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1970 - JIM PLUNKETT, QB, STANFORD
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1969 - MIKE REID, DT, PENN STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1968 - O.J. SIMPSON, RB, USC
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1967 - GARY BEBAN, QB, UCLA
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1966 - JAMES R. LYNCH, LB, NOTRE DAME
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1965 - TOMMY NOBIS, JR., LB, TEXAS
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1964 - GLENN RESSLER, OL, PENN STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1963 - ROGER STAUBACH, QB, NAVY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1962 - TERRY BAKER, QB, OREGON STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1961 - ROBERT E. FERGUSON, FB, OHIO STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1960 - JOSEPH BELLINO, HB, NAVY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1959 - RICHARD J. LUCAS, QB, PENN STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1958 - PETER J. DAWKINS, HB, ARMY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1957 - ROBERT H. REIFSNYDER, DE, NAVY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1956 - TOM MCDONALD, FLANKER, OKLAHOMA
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1955 - HOWARD CASSIDY, HB, OHIO STATE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1954 - RONALD BEAGLE, END, NAVY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1953 - JOHN LATTNER, HB, NOTRE DAME
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1952 - JOHN LATTNER, HB, NOTRE DAME
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1951 - DICK KAZMAIER, HB, PRINCETON
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1950 - FRANCIS J. BAGNELL, HB, PENN
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1949 - LEON HART, END, NOTRE DAME
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1948 - CHARLES BEDNARIK, LB, PENN
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1947 - DOAK WALKER, HB, SMU
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1946 - CHARLES TRIPPI, HB, GEORGIA
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1945 - FELIX A. BLANCHARD, FB, ARMY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1944 - GLENN DAVIS, HB, ARMY
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1943 - ROBERT H. ODELL, HB, PENN
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1942 - PAUL V. GOVERNALI, QB, COLUMBIA
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1941 - BILL DUDLEY, HB, VIRGINIA
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1940 - TOM HARMON, HB, MICHIGAN
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1939 - NILES C. KINNICK, HB, IOWA
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1938 - DAVEY O'BRIEN, QB, TCU
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award
1937 - CLINTON E. FRANK, HB, YALE
Purdue QB Drew Brees in 2000, the year he won the Maxwell Award