C.J. Stroud leads Maxwell Award Weekly Honor Roll list
It was another big week for Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has to be considered the top quarterback in college football after last weekend’s showing in a win over Indiana.
Stroud was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week and he leads a group of talented performers that includes North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and Hendon Hooker of Tennessee.
The Maxwell Football Club awards the Maxwell Award, annually given to the nation’s top college football player. They also hand out the Chuck Bednarik Award for the top defensive player in college football.
Every March, the club hosts an annual awards gala at the Harrah’s in Atlantic City, N.J.
Check out the eight players who made this week’s Maxwell Award Weekly Honor Roll!
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
With five touchdown passes, Stroud provided a reminder that he is one of the best players in all of college football. He was clean and efficient in Saturday’s 56-14 win over Indiana. Named the Maxwell Award’s Player of the Week, Stroud went 17-of-28 passing for 297 yards.
QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
It seems like Maye, along with Stroud, is here on nearly a weekly basis. North Carolina is a longshot for the College Football Playoff but the freshman quarterback has his team exceeding expectations. In a weekend win over Wake Forest, Maye was 31-of-49 for 448 yards with three touchdowns; he also had 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
WR Josh Downs, North Carolina
Two Tar Heels make the roll this week as Maye’s favorite target in the Wake Forest win was the junior Downs, who had 11 catches for 154 yards with three touchdowns. Downs may not get a ton of publicity, but he now has 46 catches for 548 yards and six touchdowns in his last four games.
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Another freshman making an impact, Singleton didn’t get a ton of work in Penn State’s 30-0 win over Maryland, but he still impressed with 11 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also had one catch for five yards as Penn State continues their climb in the rankings.
QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
The transfer from Indiana has taken the next step in the Pac-12, showing that he is completely back from a season-ending injury suffered last season. In an upset win over Oregon, Penix threw for 408 yards on 26-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran the ball twice for 20 yards.
QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Another week, another sparkling performance from Hooker who was 25-of-35 for 355 yards and three touchdowns passing while adding a touchdown and 50 yards on the ground. Tennessee has a very legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff and the play of Hooker is a major reason why.
QB Jordan Travis, Florida State
It was an impressive and complete performance from Florida State in their 38-3 win at Syracuse. Travis has now thrown three touchdown passes in each of the last three games, a strong run of form. His latest sparkling performance came on Saturday while completing 91 percent of his passes.
RB Eric Gray, Oklahoma
This has not been a mountain-top type of season for Oklahoma, with Saturday’s loss being the latest frustration. But Gray was outstanding in the loss with 25 carries for 211 rushing yards with two touchdowns. He also contributed four catches for 12 yards.
