Morris Named to Maxwell Preseason Watchlist

PHILADELPHIA – Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris has been named to the 89th Maxwell Award preseason watchlist, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday (July 28). The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. 

The full list consists of 80 players nationwide. Morris is one of 17 ACC players to be recognized, the second most among any conference in the country. 

The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official. 

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 11, 2025, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 25, 2025. The winner of the 89th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec.11, 2025. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Ashton Jeanty from Boise State University was the 2024 Maxwell Award winner and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 1st round of the NFL draft.

ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, NFL Foundation, College Sports Communicators, SRA Inc, Vertical Raise, Quinco Inc, the ETC Foundation and the Bradley Law Firm. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org. 

ABOUT PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS
PFF is widely recognized as the industry leader in the advanced data collection and analysis for American football. Since 2011, PFF has led football’s charge into the world of analytics. Their services are trusted by all 32 NFL teams and over 100 FBS programs. Major broadcast networks, national media outlets and player agencies all use PFF as a resource as well. PFF’s media network provides fans with apps, tools, podcasts and other content to help satisfy their thirst for deeper insights in the game. 

The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. 

Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watchlists over a two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2025 preseason watchlist calendar: 

• Monday, July 28: Maxwell Award 

• Tuesday, July 29: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy 

• Wednesday, July 30: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award/Butkus Award 

• Thursday, July 31: Paul Hornung Award/Allstate Wuerffel Trophy 

• Friday, Aug. 1: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award 

• Monday, Aug. 4: Walter Camp Award 

• Tuesday, Aug. 5: Doak Walker Award 

• Wednesday, Aug. 6: Biletnikoff Award 

• Thursday, Aug. 7: Davey O’Brien Award 

• Friday, Aug. 8: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy 

• Monday, Aug. 11: Bednarik Award 

For more information about the NCFAA and its college football awards, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter @NCFAA.