Two USC football players named to prestigious national award watchlist

Gamecocks Spencer Rattler and Antwane Wells Jr. were named to the 87th Maxwell Award watchlist, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

The award – named after Swarthmore College football player, coach and sportswriter Robert “Tiny” Maxwell – is presented annually to the best player in college football. Its recipients have gone on to win the Heisman Trophy eight of the last nine years, with Tua Tagovailoa (Maxwell) and Kyler Murray (Heisman) splitting the awards in 2018.

Rattler – South Carolina’s QB1 – threw for 3,026 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first year with the program. He shone in the Gamecocks victories over Tennessee and Clemson last season, combining for 798 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite completing 66% of his passes, he also struggled with accuracy as evident by his SEC-leading 12 interceptions.

Wells was Rattler’s top receiving target, catching 68 passes for 928 yards and six touchdowns en route to first-team All-SEC honors.

Past winners of the Maxwell Award include Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Purdue’s Drew Brees, and both Peyton and Eli Manning. No South Carolina football player has ever won the award.

Semifinalists will be announced Nov. 13, while the three finalists will be revealed Nov. 28. The honor will be awarded during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7, with a separate formal presentation at the Maxwell Football Club Awards will take place in March.