TALLAHASSEE – Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow and Florida State junior quarterback Christian Ponder are among the 16 semifinalists for the 73rd Maxwell Award, presented to the nation’s collegiate player of the year.
Maxwell Football Club president Ron Jaworski made the announcement Wednesday morning.
Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, has scored 18 all-purpose touchdowns in leading the top-ranked Gators to an 8-0 record and a berth in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
Ponder leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing yards, total offense and completion percentage. He ranks among the top five nationally in four statistical categories.
Voting for the Maxwell Award, open only to club members, NCAA head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members, will be conducted through Nov. 22 with the three finalists announced Nov. 23. The winner will announced at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10, 2009.
Semifinalists for the 73rd Maxwell Award
- Best, Jahvid, University of California Berkley, RB, JR
- Clausen, Jimmy, Notre Dame, QB, JR
- Devine, Noel, West Virginia University, RB, JR
- Gerhart, Toby, Stanford University, RB, SR
- Ingram, Mark, University of Alabama, RB, SOPH
- Keenum, Case, University of Houston, QB, JR
- LeFevour, Dan, Central Michigan University, QB, SR
- Lewis, Dion, University of Pittsburgh, RB, FR
- Matthews, Ryan, Fresno State University, RB, JR
- McCoy, Colt, University of Texas, QB, SR
- Moore, Kellen, Boise State University, QB, SOPH
- Ponder, Christian, Florida State University, QB, JR
- Rodgers, Jacquizz, Oregon State University, RB, SOPH
- Shipley, Jordan, University of Texas, WR, SR
- Tate, Golden, Notre Dame, WR, JR
- Tebow, Tim, University of Florida, QB, SR
Information from the Florida State University Athletic Communications Department was used in compiling this report.