Penix, Wilson highlight star-studded Maxwell Football Club Cermony Friday night at the College Football Hall of Fame

College Sports, Football, High School | March 12, 2024 by | 0 Comments

The College Football Hall of Fame played host to the Maxwell Football Club and their 87th annual award ceremony on Friday night. The club gave out a number of awards to some of the most accomplished players of the 2023 football season. The recipients joined the exclusive club, placing their names on a short list of players with some of the biggest names in the history of the sport.

The 87th annual Maxwell Awards was highlighted by former Washington Huskies quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., winning the 2023 Maxwell Player of the Year and former NC State linebacker, Payton Wilson as he won the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award for the best defensive player in college football.

“This award means a lot and I am super blessed for it,” said the former Husky quarterback. “Obviously being named a Maxwell Award winner with all of those great names before me is truly a blessing,” Penix added.

When accepting the award, Penix thanked the Washington coaching staff for helping him reach the exciting level of football that he displayed last season. Now a member of the Alabama coaching staff, Penix believes that Crimson Tide head coach, Kalen DeBoer and new offensive assistants, JaMarcus Shephard and Nick Sheridan who were also on the Huskies staff last season, will bring the same winning culture Alabama fans are accustomed to.

“I feel like winning,” Penix said when he stated what his former coaches bring to the Alabama football program. “Those coaches are winners… Coach DeBoer has won everywhere he has been so I know that they are going to do an amazing job. They helped me elevate my career toward the backend of my college career so I am super grateful for them.”

The former Washington Husky quarterback threw for over 4,900 yards and 36 touchdowns and averaged close to nine yards a completion in his final season of college football. He led Washington to a PAC-12 Championship, a Sugar Bowl victory and was defeated in the National Championship game against Michigan.

This year’s Bednarik award winner, Payton Wilson, spoke very highly of the community and the coaching staff at NC State as he stated that winning the award means a lot to him and Wolfpack fans around the country.

“It’s very important to me, especially being at NC State, and the first one to ever do it,” said Wilson. “To create a legacy at NC State as it’s a national brand, it’s important to me, my family and everyone in Raleigh.”

The All-American linebacker registered 138 total tackles, six sacks and three interceptions in his final year as a member of the Wolfpack defense on his way to becoming the first NC State player to bring home the Bednarik Award.

Current Ohio State and former Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs was awarded the sixth annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The former Mill Creek High School star was at the ceremony for the second consecutive year after winning the National High School Defensive Player of the Year at last year’s event, after leading the Hawks to their first-ever state championship. Downs spent his freshman season in Tuscaloosa with the Crimson Tide, where he was already one of the best defensive backs in the country before he even touched a college field. Downs led Alabama in tackles as a freshman, the only player to do so in the Nick Saban-era of Alabama football.

Following the retirement of legendary coach Saban, Downs decided to leave Tuscaloosa and after looking over his options, Downs headed to Columbus, Ohio to play for Ryan Day and Ohio State.  when asked why he went to Ohio State Downs said “They had a system I wasn’t accustomed to. I wanted to be able to learn new things and be able to grow along with my knowledge of football.”

Downs becomes the third player from the state of Georgia to win the award, joining Dutchtown’s Will Anderson (2020) and Cartersville’s Trevor Lawrence (2018). He continues the trend of Georgia players dominating the award, with half of the six recipients coming from the Peach state.

Jefferson High School graduate Sammy Brown received the National High School Defensive Player of the Year. Brown was one of the top players in the 2024 class since the moment he stepped on a high school football field. His freshman season at Commerce High School, he rushed for 1,368 yards and 19 touchdowns to go along with 42 tackles and 2 sacks. Following his freshman season, Brown followed his father, coach Michael Brown, to Jefferson High School, with his career culminating in his senior season with him rushing for 2,289 yards and 36 rushing touchdowns along with 153 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.

When talking about what his high school career meant to him Brown said “It was awesome, it was a wonderful experience with my brothers and my coaches, getting to play under my dad, and there are so many memories I’ll get to take with me for the rest of my life.”

Brown becomes the sixth player to win the award from the state of Georgia, joining Caleb Downs (2022), Mykel Williams (2021), Barrett Carter (2020), Nolan Smith (2018), and Trenton Thompson (2014).

Winning the Offensive High School Player of the Year, Ohio State receiver and no.1 player in the 2024 recruiting class, Jeremiah Smith, is excited to get to work with Buckeyes head coach, Ryan Day and Co-Offensive Coordinator/ WR Coach, Brian Hartline.

“Being coached by them means a lot to me,” said Smith when asked about his future coaches. “Especially Coach Hartline, he’s going to get the best out of you each and everyday and he’s going to push you to be the best version of yourself,” the Ohio State receiver added.

Smith will look to become the next great Buckeye receiver after Ohio State continues to produce elite talent at the position including top-prospect in this year’s draft, Marvin Harrison Jr.

Tags:

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

CAPTCHA Image
*