November 12, 2024 - PHILADELPHIA, PA
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

MAXWELL AND BEDNARIK AWARD SEMIFINALISTS

Maxwell Football Club Executive Director, Mark Wolpert, announced the 2024 semifinalists for the 88th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year and the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The lists include a field of 16 candidates for the Maxwell Award and 20 candidates for the Bednarik Award as selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee.

The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered 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 College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete football reference in the country.

A strong field of Maxwell Award semifinalists includes representatives from 6 conferences, with the SEC boasting 5 candidates each and the Big Ten and ACC notching 3 spots each. This class of candidates which features 10 quarterbacks, 5 running backs and 1 wide receiver/athlete.

On the defensive side of the ball, the field of contenders is comprised of fresh faces with 20 players selected. 5 different conferences and 1 independent are represented, led by 9 student-athletes each from the SEC and 5 from the Big 10.

Last season, the Maxwell Award was presented to Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and the Bednarik Award went to NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. Penix was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons and Wilson went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 41st pick in the draft.

Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Tuesday, Nov.12 and will close on Nov. 23. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 26 and a finalist 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 88th Maxwell Award and the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Thursday, December 12, 2024. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 88th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Questions regarding the Maxwell and Bednarik semifinalist lists can be directed to: Mark Wolpert – mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or Rich Cirminiello – rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, Montage Mountain Resort, Ivy Rehab, The Buccini Pollin Group, the Edward T. Coombs Foundation and the Run Around Inc. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS - PFF is widely recognized as the industry leader in the advanced data collection and analysis for American football. Since 2011, PFF has led football’s charge into the world of analytics. Their services are trusted by all 32 NFL teams 

and over 100 FBS programs. Major broadcast networks, national media outlets and player agencies all use PFF as a resource as well. PFF’s media network provides fans with apps, tools, podcasts and other content to help satisfy their thirst for deeper insights in the game.

The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.

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