Preseason watch lists continued to roll out with Penn State players in the mix, on Monday it was the Maxwell Award, which has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937, naming Nittany Lion running back Nick Singleton to its watch list.
Singleton has already accumulated a bevy of awards and recognition just one year into his collegiate career having been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2022. He also earned All-American honors by the FWAA, ESPN, On3 and 247Sports. He led Penn State with 1,061 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns last season alongside fellow freshman Kaytron Allen as he became the 16th Penn State player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Singleton also set the Penn State freshman record with 12 rushing touchdowns and became the third PSU freshman running back to rush for over 1,000 yards.
Singleton and Kaytron Allen (867) became the first freshmen teammates in Big Ten history each with 700+ rushing yards in a season. Penn State running back Larry Johnson is the last Nittany Lion product to win the award, taking home the honors in 2002. Penn State has taken home the award seven times in program history,
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 28, 2023. The winners of the 87thMaxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
