C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tommy Eichenberg have each been named semifinalists for one of college football’s top individual awards.
Harrison and Stroud are both semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which honors college football’s best player. Stroud and Harrison are among 20 semifinalists, all of whom play on the offensive side of the ball. They’re one of two pairs of teammates to be Maxwell Award semifinalists along with Alabama’s Bryce Young and Jahmyr Gibbs and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt.
2022 #MaxwellAward Semi-finalists
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) November 1, 2022
For the full press release and more information:
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Eichenberg is one of 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award, which honors college football’s most outstanding defensive player, and one of 15 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in the nation. He’s one of seven linebackers who remain in contention for the Bednarik award.
2022 #BednarikAward Semi-finalists
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) November 1, 2022
For the full press release and more information:
: https://t.co/DQtrnasVHS
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Add a second major award accomplishment to @OhioStateFBs @tommyike41: he has been named as one of 15 semifinalists for the Butkus Award after being named earlier today a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. pic.twitter.com/1WixXWfDIf
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 1, 2022
Stroud, who is widely viewed as a top-two candidate along with Hooker to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, makes the list of Maxwell semifinalists after completing 71.3 percent of his passing attempts for 2,377 yards and 29 touchdowns with four interceptions in Ohio State’s first eight games of the season. He currently leads all FBS quarterbacks in passer rating (200.2) and is tied for the national lead in passing touchdowns.
Harrison is one of just two wide receivers on the list of Maxwell semifinalists, along with Hyatt, after he caught 48 passes for 763 yards and 10 touchdowns in Ohio State’s first eight games. He’s currently graded by Pro Football Focus as the best wide receiver in all of college football among receivers who have seen at least 10 targets this season.
Eichenberg is a Bednarik and Butkus semifinalist after recording 72 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a pick-six in Ohio State’s first eight games of the season. He’s led the way for a Buckeye defense that currently ranks sixth in the nation in total defense and 10th nationally in scoring defense, and is graded by PFF as the sixth-best linebacker in college football who has played at least 100 snaps this season.
Finalists for both the Maxwell, Bednarik and Butkus Awards will be announced on Nov. 22, and the winners will be announced during ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards show on Dec. 8.
