17 SEC players named to 2026 Maxwell Award preseason watchlist
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The preseason watchlist for the 2026 Maxwell Award was revealed on Monday, and 17 SEC football stars from 12 separate programs made the cut.
The Maxwell Award is given to the “College Football Player of the Year,” which can be otherwise thought of as the most outstanding college football player. The award is open to any position, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o won the Maxwell Award in 2012, but it is almost always given to a top QB, RB or WR. Last year’s winner, for example, was Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Here’ a look at the SEC players that made the preseason watchlist:
- Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama WR
- Byrum Brown, Auburn QB
- Jeremiah Cobb, Auburn RB
- Jadan Baugh, Florida RB
- Gunner Stockton, Georgia QB
- Nate Frazier, Georgia RB
- Sam Leavitt, LSU QB
- Ahmad Hardy, Mizzou RB
- John Mateer, Oklahoma QB
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss QB
- Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss RB
- LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina QB
- DeSean Bishop, Tennessee RB
- Arch Manning, Texas QB
- Cam Coleman, Texas WR
- Mario Craver, Texas A&M WR
- Marcel Reed, Texas A&M QB
No non-QB, RB or WR made the preseason list. Take a look at the full watchlist below:
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
