PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – A pair of Tennessee Vols were included on the preseason watch lists for the 83rd annual Maxwell Award and the 25thannual Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced today by the Maxwell Football Club.
Redshirt junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano was named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List while redshirt senior linebacker Darrell Taylor was among those recognized on the Chuck Bednarik Preseason Watch List.
Guarantano is the first Tennessee quarterback to be included on the Maxwell Watch List since Joshua Dobbs in 2016 and the Vol since running back John Kelly was added to the midseason watch list for the award in 2017.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
Guarantano started all 12 games at quarterback in 2018, passing for 1,907 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions. The Lodi, N.J., native broke the school record for consecutive passes without an interception (166). He was named SEC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week by several organizations following his 328-yard, two-touchdown performance in UT’s 30-24 upset at No. 21 Auburn. Guarantano was recently called an “under-the-radar” player for 2019 by ESPN after he was one of the nation’s top signal-callers in the face of a pass rush in 2018. He completed 57 percent of his passes at nine yards per attempt when under pressure according to ESPN.
Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning is the only Tennessee player to ever win the Maxwell Award, capturing the honor in 1997.
Taylor is the first UT linebacker to make the Bednarik Preseason Watch List since Jalen Reeves-Maybin in 2016. Defensive back Nigel Warriorwas named to the preseason watch list prior to the start of last season.
Taylor’s eight sacks in 2018 are the most of any returning player in the SEC. The Hopewell, Va., native added 11.0 tackles for loss and 36 total stops as an outside linebacker. Taylor was one of only two Power 5 players to notch two three-sack games in 2018. He had a three-sack game at No. 2 Georgia, adding a pair of forced fumbles against the Bulldogs. Additionally, Taylor notched four sacks in the 24-7 upset win over No. 11 Kentucky, becoming just the third Vol with four sacks in a game all-time. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and won several national defensive awards following his performance against the Wildcats.
The Bednarik Award has seen three Vols earn semifinalist honors. Kevin Burnett was UT’s first Bednarik Award semifinalist in 2004, while Eric Berry advanced in 2008 and Derek Barnett made the cut in 2016.
The Tennessee Volunteer football team kicks off year two of the Jeremy Pruitt era at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 when Georgia State comes to Neyland Stadium. F
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