OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Nebraska sophomore quarterback Adrian Martinez has been named to the initial Maxwell Award watch list which was released Monday afternoon.
Martinez looks to build off a record-breaking freshman year in 2018. The quarterback set 11 school records after becoming the first true freshman quarterback to start an opener in school history. Overall, Martinez threw for 2,617 yards, ran for another 629, while totaling 25 touchdowns. He was named All-Big Ten and received Freshman All-American honors.
Martinez averaged 295 yards per game offensively, leading all freshmen and placing him 12th nationally in that category. He had seven games posting 300+ yards of total offense, and three games totaling 400+ yards of total offense, along with being fourth nationally among all freshmen in passing yards per game, at 237.9.
Martinez is one of 11 Big Ten players on the watch List. He will look to become Nebraska’s second Maxwell Award winner, joining 1983 winner Mike Rozier. Rozier won the Heisman Trophy that same year.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced on October 29, while the three finalists will be unveiled on November 25. The winner of the 2019 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 12.
