J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum Named To Maxwell Award Watch List

The Maxwell Award is awarded to the nation's most outstanding player at the end of the season and two Wolverines found their names on the preseason watch list.

It was announced on Monday, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum made it onto the preseason Maxwell Award Watch List. 

The Maxwell Award is given to the most outstanding player at the end of the season. 

Desmond Howard was the last Michigan player to win the award, which was back in 1991. One other Wolverine has ever won the award -- Tom Harmon in 1940.

J.J. McCarthy is back for his junior season after starting all but one game in 2022. He threw for 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns, five interceptions, and completed 64.6% of his throws a season ago. 

Here is more about McCarthy, via the press release.

• 2022 Semifinalist, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award

• 2022 All-Big Ten (second team, media; third team, coaches)

• Responsible for 34 career touchdowns (27 passing, seven rushing) in 25 career games played with 13 starts

• Totaled 2,719 yards passing in 2022 on 208-of-322 pass attempts, the No. 8 single-season passing total in program history

• His 22 passing touchdowns in 13 starts last season were the No. 6 single-season mark in program history; created 10 total scores over the season's final three weeks

• Team's Offensive Player (2022) and Rookie (2021) of the Year winner

Blake Corum is back for his senior season after deciding to come back to Ann Arbor and pass up the NFL draft. Corum missed the final three games in 2022 after injuring his knee against Illinois. But he still finished with 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground and was still a Heisman candidate. 

Here is more information about Corum, via the press release.

• Unanimous First-Team All-American (2022)

• Seventh in 2022 Heisman Trophy Balloting

• 2022 Chicago Silver Tribune Football winner, Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year

• 2022 Doak Walker Award Finalist

• Two-time All-Big Ten selection (consensus first team, 2022; third team, 2021)

• 30 career games out of the backfield with 13 starts

• Totaled 416 carries for 2,492 rushing yards with 31 touchdowns; added 40 receptions for 294 yards with two touchdowns and another 400 yards on kick returns

• 2022 season (1,463 rushing yards) was No. 8 single-season rushing total in U-M history

• Ranks 17th in all-time rushing yards (2,492), No. 6 in yards per carry (6.01) and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (31) at Michigan

• Team MVP, Toughest Player, Blue Collar Award (2022) and Offensive Skill Player of the Year (2021) winner

In other news..

Michigan long snapper, William Wagner, made it onto the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list. The award is presented to the nation's best long snapper at the end of the season.