Oct. 31, 2011
SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. - Baylor junior quarterback Robert Griffin III has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the 75th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club Advisory Committee Monday.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the nation's most outstanding collegiate football player since 1937. It is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell. RG3 was a semifinalist for the 2010 award, which was won by Auburn's Cam Newton.
Three finalists for the award will be selected Nov. 21, and a second round of voting will take place at that time. The winner will be announced on Dec. 8 as part of the ESPN College Football Awards Show Powered by The Home Depot. The formal presentation of the award will be at the Maxwell Football Club's Awards Dinner on March 2 in Atlantic City, N.J.
RG3 is one of nine quarterbacks among the 16 semifinalists and is one of three Big 12 signal-callers, joining Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. Big 12 receivers Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) and Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) also made the cut. The Big 12 and Pac-12 tied for the lead with five semifinalists representing each conference.
A native of Copperas Cove, Texas, Griffin III has completed 175 of 232 passes for 2,375 yards, 23 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He ranks second nationally with a 75.4 completion percentage and 22.29 points responsibility per game. RG3 also ranks third nationally in total offense per game (385.29), passing efficiency (190.69) and yards per attempt (10.24).
RG3 earned his 44th school record, setting the single-game mark for passing yards with 430 yards, on Oct. 15 at Texas A&M. He also ranks ninth in school history with 1,877 career rushing yards.
Griffin III is also one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien Award and one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
The former All-American track hurdler received his undergraduate degree in political science in December and is currently enrolled in graduate school.
The Bears return to action Saturday at 6 p.m. CT when they host Missouri for the 102nd anniversary of the first Homecoming at Baylor. The game will be televised live nationally on FSN from Floyd Casey Stadium.
For more information on RG3, visit www.bu-RG3.com, www.facebook.com/RG3forHeisman or follow @RG3forHeisman on Twitter.
2011 Maxwell Award Semifinalists:
Matt Barkley, USC
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Robert Griffin III, Baylor
LaMichael James, Oregon
Landry Jones, Oklahoma
Case Keenum, Houston
Andrew Luck, Stanford
Kellen Moore, Boise State
Chris Polk, Washington
Trent Richardson, Alabama
Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
Russell Wilson, Wisconsin
David Wilson, Virginia Tech
Robert Woods, USC
