BATON ROUGE — LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell is one of 60 players who have been named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski announced on Tuesday.
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the Collegiate Football Player of the Year. Last year, quarterback Vince Young of Texas won the award.
Russell, who enters his junior season with the Tigers, is coming off a sophomore season that saw him post a 10-2 mark as LSU’s starting quarterback. A year ago, Russell led the Tigers to four fourth quarter comebacks or wins in overtime, including a 16-13 victory over No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Russell, who was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 by the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club, completed 188 of 311 passes for 2,443 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. He was also named SEC Offensive Player of the Week following LSU’s win over Vanderbilt.
For his career, Russell has compiled a 14-2 record as LSU’s starting quarterback and he’s thrown for 3,496 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Other top names on the Maxwell Award watch list include Chris Leak of Florida, Kenny Irons of Auburn, Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma, and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame.
2006 Maxwell Award Watch List
PLAYER
SCHOOL
POS.
CLASS
Ainge, Erik
Tennessee
QB
Jr.
Bomar, Rhett
Oklahoma
QB
Soph.
Booker, Lorenzo
Florida State
RB
Sr.
Booty, John David
Southern California
QB
Jr.
Breaston, Steve
Michigan
WR
Sr.
Brennan, Colt
Hawaii
QB
Jr.
Brohm, Brian
Louisville
QB
Jr.
Brown, Thomas
Georgia
RB
Jr.
Bush, Michael
Louisville
RB
Sr.
Charles, Jamaal
Texas
RB
Soph.
Cox, Brandon
Auburn
QB
Jr.
Darby, Ken
Alabama
RB
Sr.
Davis, James
Clemson
RB
Soph.
Ginn, Ted
Ohio State
WR/Ath
Jr.
Green-Ellis, BenJarvus
Ole Miss
RB
Jr.
Hamilton, Lynell
San Diego State
RB
Sr.
Harris, Clark
Rutgers
TE
Sr.
Hart, Michael
Michigan
RB
Jr.
Henne, Chad
Michigan
QB
Jr.
Hollenbach, Sam
Maryland
QB
Sr.
Irons, Kenny
Auburn
RB
Sr.
Jarrett, Dwayne
Southern California
WR
Jr.
Johnson, Calvin
Georgia Tech
WR
Jr.
Kolb, Kevin
Houston
QB
Sr.
Leak, Chris
Florida
QB
Sr.
Leonard, Brian
Rutgers
FB
Sr.
Little, Rafael
Kentucky
RB
Jr.
Lynch, Marshawn
California
RB
Jr.
McFadden, Darren
Arkansas
RB
Soph.
Meyer, Bret
Iowa State
QB
Jr.
Miller, Zach
Arizona State
TE
Jr.
Mitchell, Blake
South Carolina
QB
Jr.
Moss, Tyrone
Miami
RB
Sr.
Olsen, Greg
Miami
TE
Jr.
Olson, Ben
UCLA
QB
Soph.
Palko, Tyler
Pittsburgh
QB
Sr.
Palmer, Jordan
UTEP
QB
Sr.
Peterson, Adrian
Oklahoma
RB
Jr.
Pittman, Antonio
Ohio State
RB
Jr.
Quinn, Brady
Notre Dame
QB
Sr.
Rice, Sidney
South Carolina
WR
Soph.
LSU
QB
Jr.
Samardzija, Jeff
Notre Dame
WR
Sr.
Slaton, Steve
West Virginia
RB
Soph.
Smith, Steve
Southern California
WR
Sr.
Smith, Troy
Ohio State
QB
Sr.
Stanton, Drew
Michigan State
QB
Sr.
Stocco, John
Wisconsin
QB
Sr.
Sutton, Tyrell
Northwestern
RB
Soph.
Tate, Drew
Iowa
QB
Sr.
Taylor, Zac
Nebraska
QB
Sr.
Thomas, Jamario
North Texas
RB
Jr.
Walker, Darius
Notre Dame
RB
Jr.
Weatherford, Drew
Florida State
QB
Soph.
White, Pat
West Virginia
QB
Soph.
Williams, Derek
Penn State
WR/Ath
Soph.
Wolfe, Garrett
Northern Illinois
RB
Sr.
Wright, Kyle
Miami
QB
Jr.
Young, Albert
Iowa
RB
Jr.
Zabransky, Jared
Boise State
QB
Sr.