PHILADELPHIA — UTSA running back Sincere McCormick has been named to the Maxwell Award watch list and safety Rashad Wisdom has landed on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday.
McCormick is one of 80 FBS players and one of four from Conference USA on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which 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 the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
Wisdom is one of 90 FBS players, including one of six from C-USA, on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at the University of Pennsylvania and with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
Earning a spot on the Maxwell Award watch list is the latest in a long line of preseason accolades for McCormick, who has been named to four preseason All-America teams by major national publications. He also was chosen as Best Running Back and to the Preseason All-Texas College Team by Dave Campbell's Texas Football in addition to being tabbed preseason first-team all-conference by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
A product of Converse Judson High School, McCormick is coming off a record-setting sophomore season in 2020 that saw him eclipse UTSA's single-season marks for rushing yards (1,467), touchdowns (11), carries (249), rushing yards per game (133.4) and all-purpose yards (1,598) en route to being named a second-team All-American by both Phil Steele and the Football Writers Association of America.
The 2020 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-league performer finished second in the nation among FBS players in rushing yardage after logging a conference-best seven 100-yard games, including a school-record 251 in the 49-17 win over North Texas. An FWAA Freshman All-American and C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2019, he was one of five finalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, the Dave Campbell's Texas Football College Player of the Year and a four-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Week pick last fall.
In addition to making the Bednarik Award watch list, Wisdom earned a spot on Dave Campbell's Texas Football Preseason All-Texas College Team and he is a preseason first-team all-conference pick by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Also a former Converse Judson star, Wisdom garnered first-team all-conference and Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors in the secondary as a sophomore last fall. He led UTSA with 95 total tackles and a league-best four interceptions, which tied the program's single-season record. He recorded a team-best 60 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles and a pass breakup on the year.
Wisdom was voted Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week and C-USA Defensive Player of the Week after posting nine tackles and causing two fumbles in the 52-21 win over UTEP. He opened the campaign by registering 10 tackles and returning an interception 81 yards for a touchdown for his second career pick-six, which is tied atop the program's all-time list, in the 51-48 double-overtime victory against Texas State.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik and Maxwell Awards powered by Mammoth Tech will be announced on Nov. 1, while finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 22. The winner of the 2021 Bednarik and Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 9. The formal presentation of the awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2022.
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF), XOS ThunderCloud 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 ThunderCloud provides the Maxwell Club selection committee with access to game footage from all FBS colleges.
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, Mammoth Tech and the Athletes' Corner. To learn more about our story visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
The Bednarik and Maxwell Awards are members of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
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