Willis Named to Maxwell Award Semifinal Listing
11/2/2021 6:34:46 AM | Football
Liberty’s Malik Willis continues to add to his award-winning season by being named a semifinalist for a national player of the year honor.
Willis was one of 15 players named to the semifinalist list for the 85th annual Maxwell Award on Monday, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club.
The Maxwell Award has presented the College Player of the Year award since 1937. The award is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on November 2 and will close on November 20. Three finalists for the award will be announced on November 23 and a finalist 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.
The winners of the 85th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be broadcast live on ESPN on December 9. The formal presentation of the Maxwell will take place at the 85th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held at Tropicana Atlantic City on March 11, 2022.
Willis continues to be Liberty’s top offensive threat, accounting for 66.6 percent of the Flames’ total offensive yards in 2021 (Team Yards: 4,009/Willis: 2,670 – Rush 684, Pass 1,986).
On the season, Willis has completed 140-of-210 passing attempts for 1,986 yards and 21 touchdowns. The redshirt junior is also Liberty’s leading rusher, having carried the ball 126 times for 684 yards and nine touchdowns.
Willis moved over the 4,000-yard passing mark during the Flames’ come-from-behind win at North Texas on October 23. In 34 career games, including his time as a back-up quarterback at Auburn, Willis has thrown for 4,315 yards and 42 career touchdowns. He has also rushed for 1,937 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Willis currently ranks No. 4 in the country in points responsible for (182/20.2 per game), No. 8 in passing efficiency (173.6), No. 10 in passing touchdowns (21), No. 14 in passing yards per completion (14.22), No. 18 in total offense (297.2 yards per game) and No. 25 in rushing touchdowns (9).
2021 Maxwell Award Semifinals
Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Breece Hall, Iowa State
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
Drake London, USC
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
Tanner Mordecai, SMU
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Bijan Robinson, Texas
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Kennethm Walker III, Michigan State
Malik Willis, Liberty
Bryce Young, Alabama
