The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Brooks, Sweat named to Maxwell, Bednarik Award watch lists
10.19.2023 | Football
Texas RB Jonathon Brooks and DL T’Vondre Sweat are on the watch lists for College Football’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
PHILADELPHIA – No. 8/8 Texas Football running back Jonathon Brooks and defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat were named to the 2023 midseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Bednarik Awards, respectively, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Thursday. The Maxwell Award has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937, while the Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995.
Brooks leads Power 5 running backs and is fourth nationally averaging 121.0 rushing yards per game, while ranking sixth in the FBS in all-purpose yards (141.17 ypg) and ninth in rushing yards (726). He leads the Big 12 Conference in rushing yards per game, all-purpose yards, rushing touchdowns (6) and total touchdowns (7), is second in rushing yards per carry (6.72) and third in rushing yards. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last four games, including a career-high 218-yard outing against a Kansas defense that entered play allowing just 92 rushing yards per game. Over the four-game stretch, he has totaled 617 yards on 82 carries (7.5 ypc) with five touchdowns, while also catching seven passes for 75 yards. On the year, he has five rushes of at least 30 yards, including two of over 60, and a 37-yard touchdown reception. The Hallettsville, Texas native has earned first-team Midseason All-American honors from the Associated Press, ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, FOX Sports and USA Today.
Sweat has registered 18 tackles (eight solo) with four tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries. He has been a key cog in the center of the Texas defensive line that is allowing just 112.3 rushing yards per game (27th in the nation). A native of Huntsville, Texas, Sweat received first-team Midseason All-American accolades from The Athletic, was a second-team selection by the Associated Press and FOX Sports and received honorable mention recognition from ESPN.
The Texas defense is 25th in the nation in total defense (323.3 ypg) and allowing only 16.3 points per game (16th). Texas leads the Big 12 Conference and is eighth nationally in third down conversion percentage allowed (28.4%) and ranks 18th in fourth down conversions allowed (33.3%). UT has yielded a Big 12-leading 101 first downs, 14th-fewest in the nation.
Players named to the midseason watch lists were selected by the Maxwell Football Club national selection committee and will be eligible for consideration as semifinalists for each of these respective awards. Semifinalists for both awards will be announced on Monday, Nov. 13 and voting will commence on November 1, while the three finalists for each will be unveiled November 28, 2023.
The winners of the 87th Maxwell Award and 29th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award and Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
