Today ESPN released the candidates for CFB’s top positional awards. The Maxwell Award results are often a very good predictor Heisman Trophy voting will lean. The last four winners of the Maxwell went on to secure the Heisman. Many of these awards have a clear frontrunner, others are very neck and neck. Below is a prediction on how each will play out.
Maxwell Award – Top CFB Player
Will Grier, West Virginia Mountaineers
Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Sooners
Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Crimson Tide
Tua has lost some ground of late, but is still the best player on the best team in the nation. He will likely take this award home as well as the heisman.
Winner: Tua
Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award – Top QB
Gardner Minshew, Washington State Cougars
Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Sooners
Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Crimson Tide
*See previous description* Without a running back at the top of the race, these awards seem very similar.
Winner: Tua
Chuck Bednarik Award – Top Defensive Player
Josh Allen, Kentucky Wildcats
Christian Wilkins, Clemson Tigers
Quinnen Williams, Alabama Crimson Tide
This could go a few ways. As a linebacker, Allen has better stats, and has more of an impact on each play than the interior lineman. With 80 Tackles, 13 Sacks, and 5 Forced Fumbles, he looks to have a neck above Wilkins and Williams.
Winner: Allen
Biletnikoff Award – Most Outstanding Reciever (Not exclusively WR)
Andy Isabella, Massachusetts Minutemen
Jerry Jeudy, Alabama Crimson Tide
Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Isabella might get the small school treatment here, but he has had the best season of any WR in the nation. 15 Rec, 219 Yards, and 2 TDs against Georgia gave him the advantage going into week 13.
Winner: Isabella
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award – Top Place Kicker
Cooper Rothe, Wyoming Cowboys
Andre Szmyt, Syracuse Orange
Cole Tracy, LSU Tigers
Szmyt is 28/31 on the season for one of the better schools in the nation. 3/3 from 50+ yards and perfect on XPs. When it comes to being a kicker, its make or miss and he doesn’t miss much.
Winner: Szmyt
Ray Guy Award – Top Punter
Braden Mann, Texas A&M Aggies
James Smith, Cincinnati Bearcats
Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah Utes
When grading a punter there are a ton of factors. Wishnowsky is the best punting prospect in CFB and has been the best punter for a while.
Winner: Wishnowski
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award – Best DB
DeAndre Baker, Georgia Bulldogs
Julian Love, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Greedy Williams, LSU Tigers
From what I’ve seen, Greedy Williams is the best defensive back college football. Baker may have an outside shot, but I think Williams should win this pretty easily.
Doak Walker Award – Top RB
Travis Etienne, Clemson Tigers
Darrell Henderson, Memphis Tigers
Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin Badgers
Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in CFB this season. It blows my mind that this Wisconsin team is not fighting for a spot in the CFB playoffs this season. This guy is so good.
Winner: Taylor
John Mackey Award – Top TE
T.J. Hockenson, Iowa Hawkeyes
Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri Tigers
Kaden Smith, Stanford Cardinal
Hockenson leads the pack in Yards and Touchdowns. Hockenson isn’t an elite blocker, but is more than capable of helping out as a legit every down TE.
Winner: Hockenson
Wuerffel Trophy – Community Service
David Blough, Purdue Boilermakers
Dalton Risner, Kansas State Wildcats
Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Your guess is as good as mine for the Wuerffel Trophy. Risner is the best player on this list so I’ll give him the the edge here.
Winner: Risner
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
