STANFORD, Calif. - Junior Christian McCaffrey was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, and classmate Solomon Thomas earned a semifinalist nod for the Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club. The Maxwell Award is given annually to the collegiate player of the year, while the Chuck Bednarik Award is given to college football's most outstanding defensive player.
McCaffrey ranks first in the Pac-12 Conference and sixth nationally with 182.6 all-purpose yards/game. McCaffrey also leads the Pac-12 with 111.6 rushing yards/game.
Thomas is third among Pac-12 defenders with 1.4 tackles for loss/game and 0.88 sacks/game, marks which rank nationally among the top-25.
Thomas also is college football's eighth-ranked defensive lineman and sixth-ranked interior lineman by Pro Football Focus.
The respective lists include a field of 18 candidates for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards as selected by the Maxwell Football Club selection committee.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, LSU running back Leonard Fournette and McCaffrey are returners from last year's semifinalist list.
Semifinalist voting for both of the awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club begins Nov. 1. Three finalists for reach award will be announced Nov. 22.
