Southern Miss quarterback Braylon Braxton continues to bring in the preseason honors. After being predicted as Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year a week ago, he’s now been included on the prestigious Maxwell Award watch list.
The award, now in its 89th year, is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the top college football player. Named after player, sportswriter, and football official Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty won the award last year. The only player from a Mississippi school to ever win was Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning in 2003.
Braxton, a redshirt senior who joined new Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff from Marshall, played 11 games for the Thundering Herd in 2024 and helped lead the team to a Sun Belt championship with 1,624 passing yards, 610 rushing yards, and 23 total touchdowns.
His play earned him Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year after playing for Tulsa from 2021-24.
QB1⃣
Braylon Braxton has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List
🔗 » https://t.co/KqJZcembKx@braylon_braxton | #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/roQcVRKPHG
— Southern Miss Football (@SouthernMissFB) July 28, 2025
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 11 with three finalists will be announced Nov. 25. The winner of the 2025 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11.
