Is the Heisman Trophy heading to Southern California?
The signs seem to point in that direction, as USC quarterback Caleb Williams was announced as the Maxwell Award winner on Thursday night.
Each year, the Maxwell Award is given to college football’s player of the year and tends to portend the winner of the Heisman Trophy. Seven of Maxwell’s past eight winners have also won the Heisman Trophy, with the only exception being Oklahoma quarterback Kyler at his Murray (Heisman) and Alabama quarterback. A certain Tua his Tagovailoa (Maxwell) split the prize.
Williams won Maxwell over fellow finalists Hendon Hooker (QB, Tennessee) and CJ Stroud (QB, Ohio).
That’s not the only piece of hardware Williams brought home on Thursday. The Trojan signal-caller was also named the Associated Press College His Footballer of the Year, winning the award for the first time since 2005 in his stellar debut season with the Trojans.
Williams received 32 of the 46 first-place votes, earning a total of 117 points from voters in the AP Top 25 and winning the award presented by the Regional Bank. The Heisman Trophy favorite was well ahead of TCU quarterback Max Duggan for second place with six first-place votes and 64 points.
Stroud finished third, Hooker fourth, and Georgia’s Stetson Bennett fifth.
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. was the first repeat SEC Defensive Player of the Year this year, the only non-quarterback player to earn Top 8 votes this year, and was the only non-quarterback player to earn last season’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Finished 6th after 4th.
[Heisman Trophy preview: Key questions around each finalist]
Williams, Stroud, Duggan and Bennett are finalists for the Heisman Trophy, whose winner will be crowned on Saturday.
Several other prizes were handed out on Thursday night. Here are the latest:
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year)
Winner: Caleb Williams
Williams completed 66.1% of his passes this season, passing for 4,075 yards with an FBS-leading 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions, earning him the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Award. did. He also rushed for 372 yards and 10 touchdowns.
AP Player of the Year
Winner: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Walter Camp Player of the Year
Winner: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year as judged by the FWAA)
Winner: Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama
Anderson dominated the SEC in his junior season, achieving a conference-leading 10 sacks and 17 tackles despite facing frequent double teams. He also returned 25 yards for a touchdown and recorded his first career interception.
Lombardi Award (outstanding college football lineman)
Winner: Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)
Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year award judged by Maxwell Club)
Winner: Will Anderson Jr., LB Alabama
Davey O’Brien Award (Best Quarterback)
Winner: Max Duggan, TCU
Duggan wasn’t even a TCU starter early in the season, but he led the Horned Frogs to CFP, passing for 3,321 yards and 30 touchdowns along the way. He is the school’s first player to win the Davey O’Brien Award, named after the former TCU star.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Top Senior Quarterback)
Winner: Max Duggan, TCU
Dork Walker Award (Best Running Back Award)
Winner: Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson rushed for a career-high 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, ranking fifth and fourth nationwide in those categories, respectively. He also caught 19 passes for his 314 yards and his two touchdowns. It’s a versatility that could have given him an edge over fellow finalists Blake Colm (Michigan) and Chase Brown (Illinois).
Beritnikov Award (Excellence Award)
Winner: Jalyn Hyatt, Tennessee
Hyatt was key to the Vols’ strong offense, catching 67 passes for 1,267 yards and scoring an FBS-leading 15 touchdowns. He was also at his best on the biggest stage with 207 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Alabama.
John Mackie Award (Best Tight End)
Winner: Brock Bowers, Georgia
The 6-foot-4-inch, 230-pounder caught 52 passes for 726 yards and scored six touchdowns for the undefeated Bulldogs. He also ran the ball six times for 93 yards and three more scores.
Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Winner: Trevius-Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
The nephew of former TCU and NFL star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, he has thrived at the cornerback position this season with 42 total tackles (including two loss tackles) and three interceptions. , recorded 11 passes defensed.
Butkus Award (top line backer)
Winner: Jack Campbell, Iowa
Campbell dominated the Hawkeyes defense this season, making 115 total tackles (3.5 tackles). Lost tackle and 2 interceptions.
William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman)
Winner: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
Jack Campbell scores a safety
The Iowa Hawkeyes led South Dakota State 5-3 this season when Jack Campbell tackled a ball carrier in the end zone.
Lymington Trophy (Outstanding Center)
Winner: Olusegun Olwatimi, Michigan
Outland Trophy (Most Outstanding Interior Lineman)
Winner: Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player)
Winner: Jack Collette, LB, Oregon
Werffel Trophy (Community Service Award)
Winner: Dylan Gibbons, OL, Florida
Ray Guy Award (Punter of the Year)
Winner: Adam Corsak, Rutgers
The Australian has averaged 44.0 yards per punt this season.
Lou Groza Award (Best Kicker)
Winner: Christopher Dunn, North Carolina
Dunn set a career mark for the ACC by scoring 93 field goals and scoring a total of 479 points.
Home Depot Coach of the Year
Winner: Sonny Dykes, TCU
Dykes is the first head football coach to start the first season in TCU and Big 12 history with a 12-loss record.
Eddie Robinson (Coach of the Year, judged by FWAA)
Winner: John Siegelmeyer, South Dakota
Broyles Award (Top Assistant Coach)
Winner: Garrett Riley, OC/QB Coach, TCU
Burlsworth Trophy (top former walk-on)
Winner: Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
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