Wilson named semifinalist for the prestigious Maxwell Award

PHILADELPHIA — The Maxwell Football Club today announced BYU quarterback Zach Wilson has been named a semifinalist for the 84th Maxwell Award as the Collegiate Player of the Year. 

The semifinal list includes 18 candidates as selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee. The Maxwell Football Club partners with Pro Football Focus, XOS ThunderCloud and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners.

Wilson, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior from Draper, Utah, has also garnered Heisman Trophy considerations in addition to being a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award. Wilson has led the Cougars to a No. 14/16 national ranking in the Associate Press and Amway Coaches polls and a 9-1 record. 

Through 10 games, Wilson ranks No. 2 nationally in points responsible for (214), No. 3 in passing touchdowns (27), No. 3 in passing efficiency (197.41), No. 3 in passing yards per attempt (11.10), No. 5 in completion percentage (.730), No. 6 in passing yards (2,964), No. 8 in passing yards per completion (15.2), No. 8 in points responsible for per game (21.4), No. 11 in passing yards per game (296.4) and No. 12 in total offense (321). 

As a team, the Cougars rank in the top 10 in 14 different statistical categories and are the only FBS team ranked in the top 10 in scoring offense (No. 8; 44.5 ppg), scoring defense (No. 4; 14.7 ppg), total offense (No. 7; 522.7 ypg) and total defense (No. 8; 299.9 ypg).  

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Award will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and will close on Dec. 20. Three finalists will be announced on Dec 21 and a final round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media. 

The winners of the 84th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show which will be broadcast live on ESPN on January 7, 2021.  

All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order below by school with the player’s school, position and class designated.