University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joe Harper
Frank Gore, Jr., Named to Maxwell Award Watch List
7/19/2021 9:04:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss freshman running back Frank Gore, Jr., was among those chosen by The Maxwell Football Club today for its watch list for the 85th Maxwell Award presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.
Gore, Jr., who was also a member of the C-USA second team as well as a member of the all-freshman squad a year ago, led the Golden Eagles in rushing with 708 yards on 121 carries for a 5.9 yard per carry average. During his first season, he posted three 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 130 yards on 23 carries at North Texas (10/3), 103 yards on 13 carries against North Alabama (11/7) and 111 yards on nine rushes against Florida Atlantic (12/10) in the season finale. The Golden Eagles were 3-0 this season when Gore, Jr., rushed for 100 or more yards.
Gore, Jr., enjoyed the most season rushing yards by a Golden Eagle since Ito Smith collected 1,415 in 2017. He had the most rushing yards of any freshman in C-USA and ranked No. 7 in the league in rushing through the regular season. Over his final two games, Gore, Jr., registered the longest rush of his career of 73 yards against Florida Atlantic for a touchdown and a 51-yard scoring reception against UTSA (11/21) for his longest catch.
The Maxwell Award 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.
The Maxwell Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, and will feature fresh faces, as 2020 winner DeVonta Smith (Alabama) and finalists Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Mac Jones (Alabama) have all moved on to the NFL.
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.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 1, 2021, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 22, 2021. The winners of the 2021 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 9, 2021. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2022.
Questions concerning the 2021 Maxwell & Bednarik Award watch list can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.
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 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.
Gore, Jr., who was also a member of the C-USA second team as well as a member of the all-freshman squad a year ago, led the Golden Eagles in rushing with 708 yards on 121 carries for a 5.9 yard per carry average. During his first season, he posted three 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 130 yards on 23 carries at North Texas (10/3), 103 yards on 13 carries against North Alabama (11/7) and 111 yards on nine rushes against Florida Atlantic (12/10) in the season finale. The Golden Eagles were 3-0 this season when Gore, Jr., rushed for 100 or more yards.
Gore, Jr., enjoyed the most season rushing yards by a Golden Eagle since Ito Smith collected 1,415 in 2017. He had the most rushing yards of any freshman in C-USA and ranked No. 7 in the league in rushing through the regular season. Over his final two games, Gore, Jr., registered the longest rush of his career of 73 yards against Florida Atlantic for a touchdown and a 51-yard scoring reception against UTSA (11/21) for his longest catch.
The Maxwell Award 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.
The Maxwell Award watch list will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast, and will feature fresh faces, as 2020 winner DeVonta Smith (Alabama) and finalists Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Mac Jones (Alabama) have all moved on to the NFL.
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.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 1, 2021, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 22, 2021. The winners of the 2021 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 9, 2021. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2022.
Questions concerning the 2021 Maxwell & Bednarik Award watch list can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.
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 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.
Players Mentioned
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