WACO, Texas – Junior quarterback Charlie Brewer was named to the watch list for the 83^rdannual Maxwell Award, while junior defensive lineman James Lynch was named to the watch list for the 25^thannual Bednarik Award, it was announced today by the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). 
 
The Maxwell Award is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell and has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. This is the first time Brewer has been named to the watch list for this prestigious award. 
 
Brewer, the 2017 Big 12 Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year, is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in 2018. He started 12 of 13 games at quarterback, throwing for 3,019 yards on 240-of-390 passing with 19 touchdowns to just 9 interceptions, also rushing 133 times for 375 yards and seven touchdowns. He boasts 11-career 200+ passing yard games, tied for seventh-most in program history and is the he fifth player in program history with six or more games of 300 or more yards passing. The Austin native has passed for 400+ yards twice and his seven career rushing touchdowns are the eighth-most by a Baylor quarterback in program history. 
 
The Bednarik Award is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. This is the first time Lynch has been named to the watch list for the Bednarik. 
 
Lynch, a 2017 ESPN Freshman All-American, boasts career totals of 14.0 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks, the most on the Bears' roster. In 2018, Lynch was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection and an AP All-Big 12 First Team honoree as he led the team and ranked ninth in the conference with 5.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles-for-loss. 
 
The last Bear to be named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award was K.J. Smith in 2017, while the last time the Bears had representation for the Maxwell Award was in 2016 when Shock Linwood, Seth Russell and KD Cannon were named to the watch list. 
 
No Bear has ever won the Maxwell Award nor the Bednarik Award in program history. 
 
The Maxwell and Bednarik Awards aremembers 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.orgto learn more about the association.
 
The Bears will open up the 2019 campaign on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. CT as they host Stephen F. Austin at McLane Stadium. 
 
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