Two Trojans named to Maxwell Award Watch List
Preseason awards watch list week kicked off Monday with the Maxwell Football Club announcing its watch list for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the nation’s College Player of the Year. Two USC Trojans were named to the list. And there was no surprise with either name.
Quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Jordan Addison are the two Trojans named to the list.
They were the top two players available in the transfer portal this offseason and, along with head coach Lincoln Riley, have completely changed the trajectory of the USC offense going into the 2022 season.
They are two of the 10 best returning players heading into this year, according to the On3 Impact 300. Williams is the No. 3 quarterback and Addison is the No. 2 wide receiver.
Williams completed 136-of-211 passes for 1,912 yards and 21 touchdowns against four interceptions as a part-time starter and true freshman last year. He also rushed 79 times for 442 yards and six touchdowns. Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. He caught 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. Addison added 56 rushing yards and another score. He also returned 12 punts for 185 yards.
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Outside of Ohio State’s combination of C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, no quarterback-wide receiver duo will be more closely watched or highly scrutinized this season than Williams and Addison.
Riley spoke about both a number of times this offseason, offering thoughts on their progression, approach to football and expectations for the season.
USC and the Maxwell Award
Three of USC’s seven Heisman Trophy winners also won the Maxwell Award. O.J. Simpson did so in 1968. Charles White took it home in 1979. And Marcus Allen won in 1981.
When USC quarterback Carson Palmer won the Heisman Trophy in 2002, Penn State running back Larry Johnson was named the Maxwell Award winner. Oklahoma quarterback Jason White won it in 2004, when USC quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman. And Texas quarterback Vince Young won it in 2005, when Reggie Bush won the Heisman.
Allen was the last player from USC to win the Maxwell Award. The Pac-10, or Pac-12, conference has won it only twice since then. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck won in 2011 and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota won in 2014.
