One of the surest signs that the new college football season is right around the corner is when the various awards begin announcing their preseason watch lists. Good news, college football fans. The first two watch lists were released Monday, with players from state schools named as candidates for both the Maxwell and Bednarik awards. NC State all-purpose back Jaylen Samuels, Duke quarterback Daniel Jones and Appalachian State running back Jalin Moore were among the 87 players nationally recognized by the Maxwell Award, the honor that has gone to the nation’s top college football player since 1937. The award is open to all players regardless of which side of the ball they play, which makes the name of NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb conspicuously missing from the list — though his cousin Nick, a running back at Georgia, was named. Bradley Chubb was, however, included on the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award — which is presented by the Maxwell Football Club in honor of the college and NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik to recognize the national college Defensive Player of the Year. Joining him on the list are North Carolina cornerback M.J. Stewart, Duke linebacker Ben Humphreys and Wake Forest end Duke Ejiofor. The Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be presented on Dec. 7 as part of a made-for-television postseason awards show.
