Maxwell Football Club President, Ron Jaworski, announced the 2016 Semifinalists for the 80th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year and the 22nd Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The respective lists include a field of 18 candidates for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards as selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee. This year the Maxwell Football Club has partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) as a selection committee partner. PFF has provided detailed statistical and performance based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts have been added to our committee and have participated in the selection process.

A very strong field of Maxwell Award semifinalists includes a representative from every Power Five FBS conference as well two student-athletes each from Alabama and Oklahoma. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, LSU running back Leonard Fournette and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey are returners from last year’s semifinalist list.

On the defensive side of the ball, the field of contenders is comprised of fresh faces, most of whom are making their debuts as Bednarik Award semifinalists. Four different conferences are represented, led by nine student-athletes from the SEC and three each from the Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC.

Last season, the Maxwell Award was presented to University of Alabama running back Derrick Henry and the Bednarik Award went to Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich. Both players now play in the National Football League, Henry with the Tennessee Titans and Matakevich with the Pittsburgh Steelers.