BATON ROUGE – LSU running back Leonard Fournette was selected as one of 20 semifinalists for the 79th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year, and linebacker Kendell Beckwith was chosen as one of 20 semifinalists for the 21st Chuck Bednarik Award for the Most Outstanding College Defensive Player of the Year, as announced Monday by Ron Jaworski, Maxwell Football Club President.
Fournette continues to lead the nation in rushing with 1,352 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns on 176 carries for a 7.7-yard average. He either leads the nation or ranks among the Top 10 nationally in at least six offensive categories.
Beckwith is tied with Deion Jones for the team lead with 51 tackles for an LSU defense that is fourth in the SEC in total defense (315.9) and second in the league in rushing defense (93.7).
Three finalists for each award will be announced Nov. 24, and the winners of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will air on ESPN on Dec. 10 from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Maxwell Award Semifinalists
Name, Position, School
Devontae Booker, RB, Utah
Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Cody Kessler, QB, USC
Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame
Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy
Greg Ward Jr., QB, Houston
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Name, Position, School
Kendell Beckwith, LB, LSU
Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida
Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Jeremy Cash, S, Duke
Su’a Cravens, LB, USC
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
A’Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama
Joe Schobert, LB, Wisconsin
Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame