Sports

McMaryion named a Maxwell Award Semifinalist

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Fresno State senior quarterback Marcus McMaryion has been named a Maxwell Award Semifinalist, as announced by Maxwell Football Club President Mark Dianno on Monday. Given to the Collegiate Player of the Year, McMaryion is one of 11 quarterbacks on the semifinalist list which also features seven running backs and two wide receivers.

The Dinuba native, who is 16-3 as the Bulldog starting quarterback over the last two seasons, currently leads the Mountain West and ranks eighth nationally in completion percentage at 70.4 percent connecting on 171-of-234 passes this season. McMaryion ranks third in the MW and 15th in the nation with 18 touchdown passes while his 2,142 passing yards rank fourth in the MW and 18th nationally. Adding seven rushing touchdowns, McMaryion has accounted for 25 total touchdowns which has resulted in 150 points for the Bulldogs which puts him second in the conference and eighth in the country in points responsible for.

A model of consistency all season, McMaryion has passed for at least 200 yards in all eight games this season and has six multi-touchdown performances in 2018. Earning the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week after his performances against UCLA and Toledo, McMaryion has added 118 rushing yards on 35 carries and his seven rushing touchdowns by a quarterback are tied for fourth-most in a single season by a Bulldog quarterback.

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Award will begin on Wednesday Oct. 31 and will close on Nov. 18. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 19 and a second round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school with the player's school, position and class designated.

The winners of the 82nd Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show presented by Gildan which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 6, 2018. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club's Awards Dinner on Friday, March 8, 2019 at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

2018 Maxwell Award Semifinalists:
Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama
AJ Dillon RB Boston College
Travis Etienne RB Clemson
Laviska Shenault WR Colorado
Marcus McMaryion QB Fresno State
D'Eriq King QB Houston
Benny Snell RB Kentucky
Darrell Henderson RB Memphis
Karan Higdon RB Michigan
Ian Book QB Notre Dame
Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State
Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma
Justin Herbert QB Oregon
Trace McSorley QB Penn State
Rondale Moore WR Purdue
McKenzie Milton QB UCF
Zack Moss RB Utah
Gardner Minshew QB Washington State
Will Grier QB West Virginia
Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin