The Maxwell Football Club released a 90-player watch list on Tuesday, giving college football fans an idea of who to look out for when the season begins in September.
UNC junior tailback Elijah Hood was among the names on the list–which is for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the best player in America since 1937.
Although the award is similar in nature to the Heisman Trophy, only four players–Derrick Henry, Marcus Mariota, Cam Newton and Tim Tebow–have earned both honors in the same year.
Hood appears poised for greatness in 2016, following a breakout season for head coach Larry Fedora in 2015 that ranks among the best in Tar Heel history.
The former Eagle Scout and ESPN Top 100 recruit from Charlotte ran for 1,463 yards on just 219 carries last season–using a bruising style that mauls through would-be tacklers.
It was the second-most prolific rushing season UNC has ever had, topped only by Don McCauley’s 1,720-yard campaign in 1970.
His 17 touchdowns and 6.7 yards per carry each ranked second in the ACC, with his yards per carry average also ranking second in the school record book (Charlie “Choo-Choo” Justice averaged 7.2 in 1946.)
In all, 15 players from the ACC–including seven running backs–were also named to the Maxwell watch list.
Joining Hood as runners are: Dalvin Cook (Florida State), James Conner (Pittsburgh), Wayne Gallman (Clemson), Travon McMillian (Virginia Tech), Joseph Yearby (Miami) and Matt Dayes (NC State).
The Tar Heels open their season in Atlanta on Sept. 3 against Georgia as part of the Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff Game.
Related Stories
‹

UNC Football's Hampton, Rucker Earn Spots on Preseason Watch ListsAs college football teams return to training camp this week ahead of a new season, two of UNC football’s most dynamic players are earning national recognition by being tabbed to end-of-season award watch lists. Running back Omarion Hampton and edge rusher Kaimon Rucker earned a spot on respective preseason lists this week, with Rucker landing […]

UNC Quarterback Drake Maye Wins Numerous Weekly HonorsAfter a near-flawless game at Appalachian State (which followed a similarly efficient performance against Florida A&M), UNC redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week, the ACC Quarterback of the Week and the ACC Rookie of the Week Tuesday. Drake Maye is the @MaxwellFootball Player of the Week 😤#CarolinaFootball […]

UNC Football Single Game Tickets Go On Sale MondayBeginning on Monday at 9 a.m., single-game UNC football tickets for the 2021 season will be available to the general public. Season tickets have already sold out according to the school, as the Tar Heels look to meet the high expectations awaiting them for the upcoming campaign. Limited quantities are available, with pricing starting at […]

Sam Howell Selected to Davey O'Brien Award Watch ListPreseason accolades continue to roll in for UNC junior quarterback Sam Howell, who was named earlier this week to the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award. Howell was one of 30 players on this year’s watch list for an award which has been presented annually to the top quarterback in the country since 1981. […]

Ty Chandler Selected to Watch List for Doak Walker AwardAhead of his first year with the Tar Heels, Tennessee running back transfer Ty Chandler was named Wednesday to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award. The award is presented the top running back in college football. Chandler arrives in Chapel Hill ranked fifth in Tennessee history with 3,245 all-purpose yards — 2,015 of […]

Former UNC Kicker Noah Ruggles Transferring to Ohio StateThrough a post on Instagram earlier this week, former UNC kicker Noah Ruggles announced he has accepted a scholarship offer to take over the kicking position at Ohio State. Ruggles will join the Buckeyes as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining — filling a desperate need on special teams for one of […]

Kick-Off Times and TV Info Revealed for Five UNC Football GamesThe UNC football program revealed Thursday that it has received the game times and TV information for five games in the upcoming 2021 season. First is the season opener in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech, which will kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3 and air on ESPN. The Tar Heels then move on […]

UNC Agrees to Home-and-Home Football Series With South CarolinaUNC announced Monday that it has agreed to a home-and-home football series against South Carolina, with the games set to take place during the 2028 and 2029 seasons. The first of the two games will happen in Columbia, SC on Sept. 2, 2028. South Carolina will then make the return trip to Kenan Stadium for […]

New York Jets Select Michael Carter In Fourth Round of NFL DraftDay Three of this year’s NFL Draft began very similar to Day Two, with a Tar Heel running back taken off the board early–as the New York Jets selected Michael Carter with the second pick of the afternoon and 107th overall. Carter’s partner in the UNC backfield last season, Javonte Williams, was taken with the […]

Javonte Williams Selected No. 35 in NFL Draft by DenverUNC junior running back Javonte Williams became the first Tar Heel off the board in this year’s NFL Draft on Friday night, as the Denver Broncos selected him in the second round with the No. 35 overall pick. Williams ran for 2,297 yards and 29 touchdowns during his three years at UNC, including setting a […]
›
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines