Armstrong, Wicks recognized on Maxwell Award Watch List

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks have been named to the preseason Maxwell Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

The Maxwell Award is named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell and has been awarded to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937.Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.

Armstrong is one of seven semifinalists for last year’s Maxwell Award to be featured on the 2022 preseason watch list. The watch list is comprised of 85 players, including 42 quarterbacks from a broad spectrum of FBS programs. Wicks is one of 14 wideouts on the watch list.

In 2021, Armstrong established single-season program records for passing yards (4,449), passing touchdowns (31), completions (326) and total offense (4,700). His 404.4 passing yards per game were the most ever by an ACC quarterback and were the most by any power-5 quarterback last season.

Wicks emerged as one of the top receivers in college football last season and broke Herman Moore’s single season record for receiving yards with 1,203. He caught 57 passes and nine touchdowns for the high-flying Cavalier attach in 2021. Wicks earned First Team All-ACC honors and All-America nods from Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Network.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 1, 2022, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 22, 2022. The winners of the 86th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 8, 2022. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards live from Atlantic City, N.J. on March 10, 2023.

The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2022.

The Maxwell Award is a member 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.