AUBURN, Ala. – For the second straight year, Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham made the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, released on Monday.
Stidham, who made the list last year before ever playing a down for the Tigers, is returning this year as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. He was the league's most accurate passer last season, completing 67 percent of his passes, and he threw for 3,158 yards with 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He was named SEC Newcomer of the Year in December.
With Stidham back for his junior year, it's only the second time since Gus Malzahn has been the head coach at Auburn that he's had his starting quarterback returning.
"We're excited," Malzahn said Sunday on SEC Nation. "He's a great leader. He's been through the year, and he's been through a season. He knows what to expect. He played his best ball against the best defenses. So (we have) high expectations. We're glad he's leading our team."
Stidham is one of 14 SEC players on this year's Maxwell Award watch list. He'll be in Atlanta on Thursday representing Auburn at SEC media days.
The Maxwell Award has been given to the College Football Player of the Year since 1937.
Semifinalists for the award will be announced Oct. 29, and the three finalists will be revealed Nov. 19. The winner will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6 with the formal presentation of the award to be made at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on March 8, 2019.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf