The 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List: 1-10

Devin Neal — © Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY SPORTS

The Big 12 Conference is teeming with talent this year from top to bottom, which is why it will be one of the most competitive leagues in college football this season. Each week will be a dog fight that will feature fireworks and masterclass performances that will separate the contenders from the pretenders. A major representative of that potential is the talented players, who will likely provide the bulk of the fireworks and masterclasses, that have found themselves on the 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List.

The Maxwell Club released its Preseason Watch List with 10 Big 12 players featured among the star-studded group of 80. Each player brings something special to the table and many have already given Maxwell-worthy performances to this point in their careers. Let's check out who all made the list.

Devin Neal, Running Back, Kansas Jayhawks

"Real Deal Devin Neal" as they call him, Neal has been one of the driving forces behind the Kansas Jayhawks' improbable surge back into football relevancy. The senior running back has spent all four years with the Jayhawks and has been with this team through woeful lows and magnificent highs. A true leader, he has helped build this Jayhawk program back brick by brick and will leave this program far better than where he found it.

In regard to Neal's play though, he is not just impressive off the field. Neal's stats speak for themselves, with 3077 total yards rushing on 541 carries (a 5.7 yards per carry average), 457 yards receiving and 36 total touchdowns throughout his career so far. A two-time 1,000-yard rusher, Neal looks to improve even further on his stats this season and prove that he is one of the top backs in the nation.

Neal also looks to impress NFL scouts too, as he is seen as one of the top running back prospects for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Time will tell where Neal will end up, but being one of the Jayhawk offense's main contributors has given Neal a major boost in his career and will help him get his name called early come April 2025.

Jalon Daniels, Quarterback, Kansas Jayhawks

A teammate of Neal's turned fellow competitor for the Maxwell Award, Jalon Daniels has also been with this Jayhawk program through thick and thin. Daniels, a fellow senior, has been a great leader and community engager alongside Neal, with the two starting a podcast going through their experiences and talking directly with their fanbase called "In the Mix with 4 and 6." The two have been instrumental in building back this program and are more than deserving to be on this list.

Daniels's numbers aren't necessarily eye-catching, as he has had to battle through injuries throughout his career. However, when he is on the field, he has given masterful performances. Daniels boasts 4,297 yards passing and 602 yards rushing throughout his career and has been responsible for 44 total touchdowns.

It's the individual game performances and film he has provided that has set him apart though and put him on this list. Daniels has drawn comparisons to the likes of Lamar Jackson with his skillset and will look to have a fully healthy season where he can prove he is the best quarterback in a Big 12 chalked full of excellent QB talent.

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DJ Giddens, Running Back, Kansas State Wildcats

Going from one Kansas FBS school to the other, the Kansas State Wildcats are predicted to be one of, if not the top program in the Big 12 this season. Part of that high praise is due to the talent they have in the backfield, with running back DJ Giddens leading the charge.

A Junction City, Kan., native, Giddens is a fantastic in-state product for the Wildcats, a team well-known for being home to the state of Kansas's best football players. A junior now, accepting his upperclassman status has been an honor for Giddens, who looks to lead his hometown team to glory this upcoming season.

Giddens has impressed so far in his career, rushing for more than 1,200 yards last year as well as racking up 323 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns. In total, he has rushed for more than 1,700 yards in his two years as a Wildcat on a 5.6 yards per carry average, making him a back that is a threat to gash you on every play. Giddens will share carries this year with newcomer Dylan Edwards, but will still be Kansas State's hometown bell-cow back looking to make a name for himself in the 2024 season.

Avery Johnson, Quarterback, Kansas State

Another Kansas local playing for the Wildcats, Wichita, Kan., native Avery Johnson is the youngest player on this list, being only a sophomore and only 19-years-old. Johnson was not a starter for the Wildcats last year, that title belonging to now Ohio State Buckeye quarterback Will Howard, but Johnson still saw ample playing time.

Howard must have seen the writing on the wall, as Johnson showed flashes of greatness in his play and his ability to lead the Wildcat offense. Johnson will get his chance to start this year and already has high expectations thrust upon him.

Johnson played in 8 total games for the Wildcats, managing a 56.1 percent completion percentage as well as throwing for 479 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also rushed for 296 yards and 7 touchdowns to boot, showing his dual-threat capabilities. He truly showed though how great he can be with his feet against the Texas Tech Raiders, where he rushed for 5 touchdowns and 90 yards. Should the throwing mechanics become a bit more downpacked, which by the looks of preseason film they are heading that direction, then Johnson will find himself in the mix with the Big 12 and the country's best quarterbacks.

Tetairoa McMillan, Wide Receiver, Arizona Wildcats

Also known as "T-Mac", junior wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is up there with the best and brightest in the country at his position. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, he has a pro-ready build and pro-ready attitude, being a strong leader and contributor to this high-flying Arizona Wildcats offense. The lone receiver representing the Big 12 on this list, McMillan is out to prove he is the top receiver in the land.

McMillan caught 90 receptions for a whopping 1,402 yards last year, averaging almost 16 yards a catch. His big body allows him to dominate in the air and make miraculous catches, however, he also has the speed to get up and down the field and get open with ease. Another 2025 NFL Draft target, McMillan makes NFL scouts salivate with his natural abilities, however was also a key leadership piece even as an underclassman while Arizona went through much change and turmoil regarding their quarterback and coaching situation.

Overall, McMillan is the whole package that you want at receiver. He's lengthy, he's quick, he's explosive and he's a leader both on and off the field. He will not only compete for the Maxwell but likely for the Biletnikoff Award as well.

Noah Fifita, Quarterback, Arizona Wildcats

McMillan would be nowhere though without his trusted quarterback and confidant, fellow Arizona Wildcat and Maxwell Watch List member Noah Fifita. McMillan and Fifita are two key examples of a deep-rooted Polynesian heritage in Arizona's football program, fully embracing their backgrounds and using their voices to promote their community. With this connection, McMillan and Fifita formed a tight-knit bond that has made them into one of the most explosive quarterback-wide receiver duos in the country.

Fifita came on board as Arizona's starting quarterback last year, taking over for Jayden De Laura. The then-freshman stunned the college football world, throwing for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and maintaining the No. 8 QB Rating in the country throughout the season. All while being just a 5-foot-10, 194-pound freshman.

Fifita has another shot at taking over the national stage this year as a sophomore. With McMillan and a stacked receiving corps overall by his side, the possibilities for this Wildcat offense are borderline unlimited.

Dequan Finn, Quarterback, Baylor Bears

Baylor Bear quarterback Dequan Finn has had a fascinating college football journey to this point. The oldest player on this list for the Big 12 at 23 years of age, Finn hails from Detroit and started his career with the Toledo Rockets, being their highest-rated recruit in the class of 2019.

Finn played at Toledo for five years, never having a losing record as a starter and bringing them a Mid-American Conference Championship in 2022. Finn would transfer to Baylor this past season though, where he looks to prove he can play in a power conference and bring Baylor back up from darkness.

Finn has thrown for 7,083 yards and 63 touchdowns, as well as ran for 1,841 yards and 25 touchdowns throughout his career. Being the oldest player on this list, his career stats certainly look the most impressive out of everyone's, but will his stats translate to the Big 12? That is Finn's biggest question mark going into this season. If they can though, be on the lookout for a Big 12 sleeper led by one of the nation's most underrated quarterbacks.

Corey Kiner, Running Back, Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati Bearcat running back Corey Kiner began his career with the LSU Tigers, where he managed 320 yards on 79 carries and 2 touchdowns. Not satisfied with his playing time at the Southeaster Conference level, Kiner would enter the Transfer Portal and become a Bearcat, where he resides to this day. Kiner has quickly developed into arguably Cincinnati's best player, forming a "Big Three" of sorts with fellow Bearcats Luke Kandra and Dontay Corleone. These three have taken the reins as team leaders for Cincinnati both on and off the field and look to bring Cincinnati into the limelight in just their second year in the conference.

Kiner will be a major piece in doing that, being Cincinnati's best skill player. Kiner rushed for 1,047 yards and 5 touchdowns last season, quietly becoming a part of the 1,000-yard rushing club as Cincinnati would finish the season 3-9. A less-than-ideal start in the Big 12, the Bearcats look to bounce back and prove they belong, with Kiner at the helm.

They will look to get back to their winning ways, and if Kiner can carry the load just as well if not better than he did last year, then the Bearcats should be sitting pretty to do just that.

Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado Buffaloes

The son of the legendary football player and current Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, expectations for Shedeur Sanders have always been sky-high. Being the son of an NFL Hall of Famer can do that, but Shedeur has done a great job to this point managing those expectations and even surpassing them, becoming one of the nation's best quarterbacks and a top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sanders began his career with the Jackson State Tigers, where he shined at the HBCU level, throwing for almost 7,000 yards and 70 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 9 more scores, during his two years with the Tigers. When his dad decided it was time to move up to the FBS, Shedeur followed his father to Colorado, where he quickly gained even more notoriety now that he was at the FBS level.

Managing the fame has certainly been no issue for the Sanders family. As Deion Sanders said during Big 12 Media Days, "I've been doing this since 1985, this ain't new to me." He has passed that attitude down to his sons, who are born and bred competitors, Shedeur arguably being the best and most vocal out of the bunch.

Shedeur followed up on his historic HBCU career with a solid first season as an FBS starter, throwing for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns, while also rushing for 4 scores. In his second and likely final season as Colorado's starter, Sanders is out to prove doubters wrong and bring his team as well as himself to the mountaintop of the Big 12 and the country.

Ollie Gordon II, Running Back, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Finishing off the list here, certainly not saving the worst for last, is Ollie Gordon II, running back for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Gordon was last year's best running back, winning the 2023 Doak Walker Award. This year, the expectation is no different for the junior running back out of Fort Worth, Texas, perhaps even higher with his placement on this list and talks of him being in the running for the Heisman Trophy as well.

Gordon had a miraculous year last year, rushing for 1,732 yards off 285 carries (a whopping 6.1 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns. Gordon also caught 39 passes for 330 yards and a score to boot.

Gordon's dominance showed in stride on the field, and while questions of his off-the-field antics have unfortunately reared their ugly heads, Gordon has taken accountability for his actions and is team-focused, ready to be one of the nation's best backs once again. It's set to be another strong year for Gordon, and if he can repeat or even exceed his numbers from last year, you will likely hear his name called for more than just the Doak Walker.

Big 12 Maxwell Watch List: Brimming With Competition

As you can see, the Big 12 is brimming with top-tier talent, which is exactly what the Maxwell Club is looking for in giving out this award. Obviously, though, there can only be one winner, and with competition being strong both in and out of the Big 12, it will be a gauntlet to see who will come out on top.

With how competitive the Big 12 is this year, whoever can prove they're the best player in this conference will likely make a great case for the Maxwell. As the old saying goes "iron sharpens iron," and we could very well see that with this group of ten excellent players vying for their shot at immortality.

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Check out who else made the Maxwell Award Watch List!

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