PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference was well-represented Monday as the semifinalists for three of college football’s major national awards were announced
Three standout quarterbacks from The American – Memphis’ Paxton Lynch, Navy’s Keenan Reynolds and Houston’s Greg Ward Jr. – were among the 20 semifinalists nationally for the Maxwell Award, which is presented to the national player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
Lynch, Reynolds and Ward were also chosen among the 17 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich, meanwhile, was tabbed as one of the 20 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the outstanding defensive player of the year.
Through eight games, Lynch has completed 200-of-285 passes for 2,709 yards and 18 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to an 8-0 record and a No. 15 national ranking. Lynch’s 2,709 passing yards ranks 10th nationally. His .702 completion percentage ranks sixth. Lynch is averaging 338.6 yards per game, which ranks seventh in the nation.
Reynolds has helped Navy to a 6-1 record in 2015 and set one of college football’s most impressive career records along the way. Reynolds had his 76th and 77th career rushing touchdowns in the Midshipmen’s win against USF last Saturday, tying him with former Wisconsin running back Montee Ball for the most in NCAA history. For the season, Reynolds has rushed for 753 yards and 13 touchdowns and has thrown for 431 yards and two TDs.
Ward has helped Houston to its fourth 8-0 start in program history with a nation-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. He is the only player nationally to average more than 200 passing yards per game (244.4 ypg) and 85 rushing yards per game (88.8 ypg). He ranks 11th nationally in total offense with 333.1 yards per game.
Matakevich is the NCAA’s active career leader in tackles (432) and has registered 78 tackles 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and an American Athletic Conference-leading five interceptions this season. He ranks third in The American, and 20th nationally, in tackles (9.8 per game) and is fifth nationally in interceptions at 0.6 per game.
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Maxwell Award Semifinalists (Player of the Year) |
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Devontae Booker |
RB |
Utah |
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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 |
|
|
|
|
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Bednarik Award Semifinalists (Top Defensive Player) |
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Kendell Beckwith |
LB |
LSU |
|
Andrew Billings |
NT |
Baylor |
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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 |
Mississippi |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
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Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List |
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Trevone Boykin |
TCU |
|
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Connor Cook |
Michigan State |
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Brandon Doughty |
Western Kentucky |
|
|
Luke Falk |
Washington State |
|
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Jared Goff |
California |
|
|
Kevin Hogan |
Stanford |
|
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Matt Johnson |
Bowling Green |
|
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Cody Kessler |
USC |
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Paxton Lynch |
Memphis |
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Patrick Mahomes |
Texas Tech |
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Baker Mayfield |
Oklahoma |
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Dak Prescott |
Mississippi State |
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Keenan Reynolds |
Navy |
|
|
Josh Rosen |
UCLA |
|
|
Seth Russell |
Baylor |
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Greg Ward Jr. |
Houston |
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Deshaun Watson |
Clemson |
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