AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn running back Tank Bigsby has been named to the watch list for the 86th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
The SEC freshman of the year in 2020, Bigsby rushed for 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021.
Bigsby began the 2021 season with three consecutive 100-yard games, adding two more with 140 rushing yards vs. Ole Miss and 164 vs. South Carolina.
In two seasons on the Plains, the 6-0, 213-pounder has rushed for 1,933 yards and 15 touchdowns to rank No. 20 in Auburn career rushing.
From the Maxwell Football Club:
Presented since 1937, the Maxwell Award is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College, renowned sports writer and football official.
The Maxwell Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast. The full list consists of 85 players with Ohio State having three candidates and an additional 14 schools having two players represented.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF), XOS and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, and several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine. XOS provides the Maxwell Club selection committee with access to game footage from all FBS colleges.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 1 while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 22. The winners of the 86th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 8. 2022. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards live from Atlantic City, NJ on March 10, 2023.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer