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Every year the Maxwell Award is given out to who is considered to be the top player in the nation.
Sam Darnold, who led USC to a thrilling Rose Bowl win over Penn State, is looking to continue his rise in the world of college football.
From Reign of Troy:
The preseason honors continue to roll in for USC’s Sam Darnold, who made the cut for the Maxwell Award watch list on Monday.
The Maxwell Award is presented each year to the college player of the year, making Darnold a no-brainer candidate.
The Trojan quarterback was among the hottest players in the country by the end of the 2016 season. He threw for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns in his debut season, leading USC out of a 1-3 hole in September with nine-consecutive wins to end the year. Darnold capped his magical year with a jaw-dropping performance in the 2017 Rose Bowl, tossing five touchdowns with 453 yards as he guided USC to a fourth-quarter comeback victory.
Given the fact that Sam Darnold is also in the preseason conversation for the Heisman Trophy, it comes as no surprise that he is also in the conversation for the Maxwell award.
Sam Darnold begins his campaign on September 2 against Western Michigan University.
Kickoff can’t come soon enough.