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The Maxwell Football Club annually presents the Maxwell Award to the best player in college football. The recipient of the annual award is judged by a panel of members of the media, football coaches and the Maxwell Football Club.
The following are quick bios for 10 players who are on the 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List.
Drew Allar, Quarterback, Penn State
Allar was a first-year starter in 2023 and came to Penn State from a heralded prep career that had him rated as the No. 1 overall quarterback prospect in the class of 2022 by 247Sports. Allar put on display why much of the hype was warranted as he guided Penn State to a double-digit win total and New Year’s Six bowl berth for the fifth time in the Nittany Lions' previous eight seasons.
Individually, Allar was recognized as a Honorable Mention by the Big Ten Conference coaches and media for the All-Big Ten team and was amongst the nation’s leaders in passing touchdown-to-interception ratio with 25 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.
Nicholas Singleton, Running Back, Penn State
Singleton capped off his 2023 season with 147 all-purpose yards in the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss. Singleton is the first Penn State running back since Saquon Barkley (2017 Rose Bowl/2017 Fiesta Bowl) to have consecutive 100 or more all-purpose yards in consecutive New Year’s Six bowl game appearances. Singleton earned third team All-Big Ten honors at the running back position as well as earning honorable mention as a return specialist.
During Singleton’s freshman season, he joined Barkley and DJ Dozier in as the only freshmen in school history to rush for more than 1,000 or more. Along with freshman teammate Kaytron Allen, the two became the only freshman running back duo in Big Ten history to rush for 700 or more yards in a single season. Singleton capped off his freshman season in the Rose Bowl where he had the third-longest rushing play in Rose Bowl history with an 87-yard touchdown.
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Will Howard, Quarterback, Ohio State
Howard had a celebrated prep career in Pennsylvania where he was recognized as the Pennsylvania Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club. Howard was thrust into the starter’s role during the 2022 season where he guided Kansas State to their first Big 12 Conference Championship since 2012. Last season was Howard’s first as a full-time starter and tied Ell Roberson’s Kansas State school record for touchdown passes in a season with 24, and broke Josh Freeman’s career record with 48.
Howard completed his Kansas State career in the top 10 in school history in completions (458), passing yards (5,786), attempts (779), total offense per game (197.3), passing yards per game (170.2), passing efficiency (135.1), touchdowns responsible for (67) and in total offense (6,707). Howard begins his first season at Ohio State in 2024.
Quinshon Judkins, Running Back, Ohio State
Judkins capped off his career with Ole Miss with 120 all-purpose yards (106 rushing, 14 receiving) in the 2023 Peach Bowl to help earn the Rebels their first 11-win season in program history. Judkins through his freshman and sophomore seasons had the fifth-most rushing yards (2,725) in Southeastern Conference history behind Knowshon Moreno (Georgia, 2,734), Darren McFadden (Arkansas, 2,760), Leonard Fournette (LSU, 2,987) and Herschel Walker (Georgia, 3,507). Judkins was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2022, as well as being named first team All-SEC in 2022 and 2023. Judkins joined Walker as the only SEC running backs in history to have more than 1,000 yards rushing and 15 rushing touchdowns during their freshman and sophomore seasons (eight overall in FBS history). Judkins begins his first season at Ohio State in 2024.
Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Egbuka enters his final season within reach of Ohio State school records in receptions, needing 78 to pass KJ Hill, and receiving yards, needing 1,041 to pass Michael Jenkins. Injuries slowed Egbuka last season, missing three games (Purdue, Penn State and Wisconsin), but he was still able to earn third team All-Big Ten conference selection with 41 receptions, 582 yards and 4 touchdowns. Egbuka broke out in 2022 ranking in the top 10 nationally in receiving yards (1,141), receptions of 10 or more yards (46) and ranked 15th nationally in receptions of 20 or more yards (19).
Egbuka earned second team All-Big Ten honors in 2022. Egbuka was a major factor in Ohio State’s 2022 Rose Bowl triumph over Utah with 163 kickoff return yards and 46 yards receiving.
Elic Ayomanor, Wide Receiver, Stanford
Ayomanor was a critical part in Stanford’s comeback against Colorado last season as he set a school record with 294 yards receiving. It was the second most receiving yards in a game in Pac-12 Conference history behind USC's Marquise Lee's 345-yard performance in 2012. Ayomanor’s 13 receptions against Colorado were the second most in school history behind Simi Fehoko’s 16 receptions against UCLA in 2020.
Ayomanor had the eighth most receiving yards in Stanford’s history and was the school’s first 1,000-yard wide receiver since J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in 2018. Ayomanor was recognized as an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2023. Ayomanor was the recipient of the 2023 Jon Cornish Trophy given annually to the best Canadian-born collegiate football player in the NCAA.
Makhi Hughes, Running Back, Tulane
After redshirting the 2022 season due to injury, Hughes broke through in 2023 winning the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Tulane player to receive the award. Along with AAC Rookie of the Year honors, Hughes received first team All-AAC honors. During 2023, Hughes rushed for 1,378 yards, the first ever freshman running back in Tulane history to rush for more than 1,000 yards, as well as having 7 rushing touchdowns.
Hughes had seven 100 or more rushing-yard performances, including six in a row. Hughes received freshman All-American recognition by several outlets including The Athletic.
Will Rogers, Quarterback, Washington
Rogers made 43 appearances and ha 40 career starts at Mississippi State, becoming the school’s most prolific passer and one of the most accomplished in SEC history. Rogers' 12,315 yards is a Mississippi State school record and ranks second in SEC history behind Georgia’s Aaron Murray, who had 13,166 yards. Rogers had 4,739 yards passing in 2021, which was the third most passing yards in a single season in SEC history behind Bryce Young (2021: 4,872) and Joe Burrow (2019: 5,671).
Rogers owns Mississippi State and SEC single season (505) and career (1,264) marks in completions and is the only SEC quarterback with more than 1,000 completions. Rogers begins his first season at Washington in 2024.
Garrett Greene, Quarterback, West Virginia
Greene’s dual-threat ability helped guide West Virginia to their most successful season since 2016 in 2023. Greene delivered a Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP-effort with 279 yards of total offense (204 pass, 75 rush) and a passing touchdown. Greene’s 2023 season earned him All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.
During 2023, Greene had the ninth-best season in total offensive production in West Virginia history with 3,178 yards (2,406 pass, 772 rush). Greene’s 29 touchdowns were responsible for matching Pat White’s total in 2008 for the 10th-best season in West Virginia history. Greene’s 13 rushing touchdowns are tied with Rasheed Marshall (2002) for the third most by a West Virginia quarterback, trailing only White’s 2006 (16) and 2007 (14) seasons. Greene ranked ninth nationally in yards per carry (6.4).
Terion Stewart, Running Back, Bowling Green
Stewart capped off a 2023 season with 762 yards rushing and 8 rushing touchdowns earning second team All-Mid-American Conference recognition. Stewart missed significant time in 2023 including Bowling Green’s appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl. Prior to Stewart’s injury in the Ball State game, Stewart led the nation in 78 broken tackles and yards per carry after contact with 4.81.
Stewart had four 100 or more rushing-yard performances and 31 rushes of 10 or more rushing yards from scrimmage. Stewart is the only running back in Bowling Green history to average more than 6 yards per carry.
Check out who else made the Maxwell Award Watch List!
The 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List: 31-40
This article is brought to you by the Maxwell Football Club, home of the prestigious Maxwell & Chuck Bednarik Awards. Become a member of the Maxwell Football Club and gain the exclusive privilege of voting for these and other nationally-recognized awards.
With over 75 years of honoring football’s finest, the Maxwell Football Club offers you the unique opportunity to help recognize top talent from high school to the professional level. By joining, you’ll be part of a tradition that celebrates excellence and helps shape the game's future.
Be part of the excitement at the Maxwell Football Awards Gala held in March 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. At the Gala, you will experience the official presentation of the awards. Don’t miss your chance to contribute to football history. Become a member TODAY by visiting https://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/jointheclub.
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