LARAMIE, Wyo. (August 3, 2026) – The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award on Monday presented annually to the outstanding player in college football. Cowboy running back Samuel "Tote" Harris was named to the list for the first time in his career. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Harris was a preseason All-MW selection by both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. Harris was Wyoming's leading rusher last season, appearing in 11 games with seven starts. He finished the season with 558 yards on 100 carries for 5.6 yards per rush. He added a rushing score on the season coming against Northern Iowa. He also added 184 yards receiving on 16 catches. He rushed for a career-high 126 yards against Colorado with a career-long rush of 50 yards. He had four receptions at Air Force for a season best and had 58 yards receiving including a long of 52 against San Jose State. He also rushed for 102 yards against Fresno State on only 12 carries.
The Maxwell Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast.
Fernando Mendoza from Indiana University was the 2025 Maxwell Award winner and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick of the NFL draft.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine in the game.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Questions concerning the 2026 Maxwell watch list can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.
ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC Showcase events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, NFL Foundation, College Sports Communicators, SRA Inc, Vertical Raise, Quinco Inc, the ETC Foundation and the Bradley Law Firm. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
