Caleb Williams Named to Maxwell Award Watch List
Monday marked the start of Watch List week for some of college football’s most prestigious awards. The Maxwell Award announced its watch list, which includes 85 of the nation’s best players heading into the 2023 season. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the only Trojan on the watch list.
The Maxwell Award has been presented annually to the College Player of the Year since 1937. The award is named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a Swarthmore College football player, coach, and sportswriter. The voting panel is made up of sportswriters, sportscasters, head coaches and the Maxwell Football Club.
Williams won the 2022 Maxwell Award, beating out finalists in Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. The USC quarterback is looking to become just the third repeat winner of the Maxwell Award. Notre Dame running back Johnny Lattner won in 1952 and 1953. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won in 2007 and 2008.
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Williams became the fourth USC player to win the Maxwell Award when he took it home following the 2022 season. Running back O.J. Simpson won USC’s first Maxwell Award, in 1968. Running back Charles White won it in 1979. And running back Marcus Allen won it in 1981.
The past four Maxwell Award winners also were awarded the Heisman Trophy. But winning one hasn’t always meant winning the other. USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart won the Heisman in 2002 and 2004, but the Maxwell Award those years went to Penn State running back Larry Johnson and Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. Texas quarterback Vince Young won it in 2005, when USC running back Reggie Bush won the Heisman.
USC 2023 Opponents on the Maxwell Award Watch List
Arizona – Quarterback Jayden de Laura and wide receiver Jacob Cowing
Colorado – Quarterback Shedeur Sanders
Notre Dame – Quarterback Sam Hartman
San Jose State – Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro
Utah – Quarterback Cameron Rising
Washington – Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze
