Maxwell Award Nominees
Wyoming's Tote Harris and Other Top College Players Earn Spots on Maxwell Award Watch List
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Samuel “Tote” Harris drew preseason All-Mountain West honors from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports after leading Wyoming in rushing (558 yards on 100 carries, 5.6 ypc) and contributing in the passing game, with a career-high 126 rushing yards against Colorado and a 52-yard reception against San Jose State.
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Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, listed on the Maxwell watch list, led the nation in passing yards last season with 4,379 and 32 touchdowns, and is noted as a Burlsworth Trophy winner who began his college career as a walk-on at North Texas.
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OSU transfer Caleb Hawkins posted 29 freshman touchdowns (25 rushing, 4 receiving) to set the NCAA FBS record, rushed for 1,434 yards, and had 1,804 all-purpose yards, earning freshman All-America and national All-America honors as he moved closer to home.
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Georgia Tech running back Justice Haynes, who transferred from Michigan, posted 857 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games in 2025, and led the Big Ten with 7.1 yards per carry and 122.4 rushing yards per game before a right-foot injury.
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UTSA quarterback Owen McCown is on the Maxwell watch list for a second straight year, having thrown for 2,995 yards and 30 touchdowns on 277-of-410 passing (.667) in 2025, including a career night going 31-for-33 for 370 yards and four TDs against Tulane; his UTSA career totals rank among the school's leaders with 6,861 passing yards and 59 TDs.
Wyoming running back Samuel "Tote" Harris has landed on the preseason watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, given each year to college football's most outstanding player. Oil City News reported the news, adding Harris to a field of 81 contenders from programs across the country.
Harris led Wyoming in rushing last season with 558 yards on 100 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He also caught a 52-yard pass against San Jose State and ran for a career-high 126 yards against Colorado. Both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports gave him preseason All-Mountain West honors, according to College Net Worth.
Oklahoma State Duo Brings Record Numbers to Watch List
Oklahoma State landed two new names on the Maxwell watch list: quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins. Both players transferred to OSU from North Texas, according to Sports Illustrated. They join Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer as Oklahoma-based players on the list, per News9.
Mestemaker led all of college football in passing yards last season with 4,379 and threw 32 touchdowns. He began his career as a walk-on and won the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors players who started college as walk-ons. Hawkins set an NCAA FBS freshman record with 29 touchdowns — 25 rushing and 4 receiving — while rushing for 1,434 yards and piling up 1,804 all-purpose yards, earning freshman All-America honors, according to Sports Illustrated.
Georgia Tech's Justice Haynes Brings Michigan Transfer Firepower
Georgia Tech running back Justice Haynes also earned a spot on the watch list after transferring from Michigan. In seven games in 2025, Haynes rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns. He led the Big Ten with 7.1 yards per carry and 122.4 rushing yards per game before a right-foot injury cut his season short, according to College Net Worth.
UTSA's McCown Returns to Watch List for Second Straight Year
UTSA quarterback Owen McCown is back on the Maxwell watch list for the second year in a row. Last season he threw for 2,995 yards and 30 touchdowns on a 66.7 percent completion rate. His best game came against Tulane, when he went 31-for-33 for 370 yards and four touchdowns, according to Oil City News.
McCown's career numbers at UTSA now sit at 6,861 passing yards and 59 touchdowns, placing him among the program's all-time leaders. His back-to-back appearances on the watch list underline his standing as one of the top signal-callers in the Conference USA.
Maxwell Award Timeline: What Happens Next
The Maxwell Award dates back to 1937 and is named for Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former player and sportswriter. The award recognizes the most outstanding overall player in college football each year. Semifinalists will be announced in November. Finalists and the winner come later, with a ceremony held in March to honor the recipient, according to College Net Worth.
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