Maxwell Football Club Executive Director Mark Wolpert announced the 2025 semifinalists for the 89th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year and the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The lists include a field of 13 candidates for the Maxwell Award and 17 candidates for the Bednarik Award as selected by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts who are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.
 
A strong field of Maxwell Award semifinalists includes representatives from three conferences and one independent, with the Big 10 boasting six candidates, followed by the SEC with five. This class of candidates features nine quarterbacks, two running backs, and two wide receivers.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, six different conferences and one independent are represented, led by seven student-athletes each from the SEC and three each from the Big 10 and Big 12.
 
Last season, the Maxwell Award was presented to Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, and the Bednarik Award went to Colorado defensive back Travis Hunter. Hunter was selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jeanty was selected sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Robinson leads Navy in tackles for a loss (7.5) and sacks (5.5), which is unheard of for a nose guard.  His 47 tackles are fourth on the team.
 
Semifinalist voting for both collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Monday Nov. 17 and will close on Nov. 24. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 27, and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors, and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school, with the player's school, position, and class designated.
 
The winners of the 89th Maxwell Award and the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 89th Maxwell Awards Gala, which will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
Questions concerning the 2025 Maxwell & Bednarik Awards can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.
 
MAXWELL AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
 
Name School Position
Ty Simpson Alabama QB
Gunner Stockton Georgia QB
Haynes King Georgia Tech QB
Fernando Mendoza Indiana QB
Emmett Johnson Nebraska RB
Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame RB
Trinidad Chambliss Ole Miss QB
Jeremiah Smith Ohio State WR
Julian Sayin Ohio State QB
Dante Moore Oregon WR
Marcel Reed Texas A&M QB
Makai Lemon USC WR
Diego Pavia Vanderbilt QB
 
 
 
 
CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
 
Name School Position
Quincy Rhodes Jr. Arkansas DE
Xavier Atkins Auburn LB
Red Murdock Buffalo LB
CJ Allen Georgia LB
Aiden Fisher Indiana LB
Mansoor Delane LSU CB
Rueben Bain Jr. Miami DE
Landon Robinson Navy NG
Leonard Moore Notre Dame CB
Caleb Downs Ohio State S
Arvell Reese Ohio State LB
R Mason Thomas Oklahoma DL
Anthony Hill Jr. Texas LB
Cashius Howell Texas A&M DE
Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech LB
David Bailey Texas Tech ED
John Henry Daley Utah DE
 
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.
 
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