July 8, 2013
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -
WKU senior running back Antonio Andrews has been named to the watch list for the 77th annual Maxwell Award and WKU junior linebacker Andrew Jackson has been named to the watch list for the 19th annual Bednarik Award, it was announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.
It is the second and third time that a WKU player has been named to a preseason watch list in 2013 after Andrews was selected to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award on Friday, July 5.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including as a player, a sportswriter and an official. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, 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.
Andrews led WKU in all-purpose yards (3,161), rushing yards (1,728), touchdowns (15), scoring (90), kick return yards (726), punt return yards (234) and carries (304) in 2012. His 3,161 all-purpose yards were the most in school history and the second-highest total ever behind 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders. Andrews and Sanders are the only two players in NCAA history to eclipse 3,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. Andrews also broke WKU's single-season rushing record and led the Sun Belt Conference with 1,728 yards while making WKU the fifth program in NCAA history to post three consecutive 1,500 yards rushers (Bobby Rainey 2010-11).
Jackson led WKU in 2012 in tackles (122), forced fumbles (4) and quarterback hits (3). He was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference for the second-straight season, leading the Hilltoppers in tackling on six different occasions, making him WKU's leading tackler in 14 of the last 26 games he has played. His 17.5 tackles for loss ranked second on the team behind 2013 NFL draft pick Quanterus Smith's 18.5.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced Oct. 29, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled Nov. 25. The winners of the 2013 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12. The formal presentations of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 7, 2014
The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club's selection committee, which analyzes both past performance and future potential. The Club reserves the right to make additions and deletions to these lists as the 2013 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, FBS head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for the awards.
The Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards are members of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 678 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more.
Season tickets for the 2013 home football schedule are on sale now through WKUSports.com, by visiting the WKU Ticket Office in E.A. Diddle Arena or by calling 1-800-5 BIG RED.
In addition to season tickets, single game tickets for the game with Kentucky in Nashville on Aug. 31 at 6:00 p.m. CT are currently on sale. Tickets are priced at $67 for club level, $47 for lower level sideline, $32 for upper sideline and $22 for upper corner. To ensure seating in the WKU fan sections, all fans are encouraged to order tickets through the WKU Ticket Office. General public tickets may be ordered online at WKUSports.com or by calling 1-800-5-BIG RED or 270-745-5222 locally. Parking passes for this game may be ordered through Ticketmaster.com or through the WKU Ticket Office. The first 4,000 WKU students at the game on August 31 with a valid ID will receive a free ticket to the game. After 4,000, student tickets will be $13. For complete coverage of WKU Football, visit www.wkusports.com.
Upcoming WKU Football Calendar of Events
July 15 - Sun Belt Conference Media Day (New Orleans, Louisiana)
July 18 - Big Red Rally & Reveal at Greenwood Mall from 6:00-8:00 p.m. CT
August 17 - Football Fan Fest (formerly Family Fun Day) at Knicely Conference Center on WKU's South Campus from 2-4pm CT
August 31 - WKU vs. Kentucky at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. at 6:00 p.m. CT
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