Maxwell Award: Ranking the top candidates

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the player voted best in college football. Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus has released his ranking of the top candidates for the award, starting with the favorite to win it all, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler.

Here are the top candidates for the Maxwell Award, according Pro Football Focus:

Maxwell Award: The Favorite

Spencer Rattler, Quarterback, Oklahoma: Rattler is continuing the trend of elite play from quarterbacks coached by Lincoln Riley. From the get-go, he’s been tremendous. Rattler earned a 92.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is the highest ever achieved by a freshman quarterback.

The redshirt sophomore isn’t just the clear-cut favorite for the Maxwell Award. He also tops list for the Heisman, Davey O’Brien and first-overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. One of those memorable seasons looks to be on the horizon for Rattler and the Sooners.

Maxwell Award: Other Contenders

Sam Howell, Quarterback, North Carolina: From the day he stepped on the field as a true freshman starting game one for North Carolina, Howell’s been a program changer. Howell will become the leader in almost every major passing category for the Tar Heels in 2021.

His arm talent has led people to compare him to former first overall picks in the NFL, like Matthew Stafford. According to PFF, Howell ranks first in the Power Five in 20-plus-yard completions (66), passing yards (2,654), touchdowns (32) and big-time throws (59 — 15 more than the next QB) over the last two seasons.

While he lost many of his weapons to the next level, Howell’s abilities put him among the elites in the chase for the Maxwell Award.

D’Eriq King, Quarterback, Miami (FL): Not many players can outshine a beautiful, gold-plated turnover chain. Still, King did, shining brighter than anyone (or anything) last season. King’s elite dual-threat ability resulted in a 90.6 PFF grade for the season. Impressively, he ranked 10th in the FBS, according to Treash.

The swagger returned for The U last season, but more importantly, King is back to wreak havoc again in 2021. Compared to Lamar Jackson before, King could join the 2016 Maxwell Award recipient on the list in 2021.

Imagine If he can pull the monumental upset against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Miami’s opening game? There’s no telling the heights King could soar.