College football’s top player in 2016 is returning to the gridiron in 2017 with similar intentions.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson was one of 85 players named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list Monday.
Former Boynton Beach quarterback Lamar Jackson was named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list Monday. (Damon Higgins/Palm Beach Post)
The Maxwell Award honors college football’s top player. Jackson, a Louisville junior and former Boynton Beach standout, won the award last season.
If he wins it again this year, he would join Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007-08) and Johnny Lattner (Notre Dame, 1952-53) as the only two-time winners. Tebow now is playing baseball in the New York Mets organization.
Jackson had a record-setting season for the Cardinals in 2016, accumulating 4,928 total yards while accounting for 51 touchdowns – 30 passing and 21 rushing.
He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Player of the Year, and also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year award.
The Maxwell Award preseason watch list includes a handful of players from Florida schools.
They are: South Florida quarterback Quentin Flowers, Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois, Florida State safety Derwin James, Miami running back Mark Walton and Florida quarterback Malik Zaire.
The Maxwell semifinalists will be revealed Oct. 30, and the finalists Nov. 20. The winner will be announced Dec. 7.
Check out the complete list here.
