If you have any ideas on the difference between the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and the Heisman Trophy, other than notoriety, please share them. One goes to the “most outstanding player,” another to the “best all-around player.” That’s usually the same guy, though there have been a few disagreements — Colt McCoy won the Maxwell over Heisman winner Mark Ingram last year, for instance.
Every 2010 Heisman nominee except Oregon Ducks RB LaMichael James is also up for the Maxwell and the Davey O’Brien, which goes to the best quarterback. Stanford Cardinal QB Andrew Luck, Auburn Tigers QB Cam Newton, and Boise St. Broncos QB Kellen Moore are up for all three, but Newton will sweep. James is in instead of Moore on the Walter Camp list.
No Auburn player has ever won the Maxwell or O’Brien. In 1985 the Maxwell went to Iowa Hawkeyes QB Chuck Long over Bo Jackson, and in 1971 it went to Cornell RB Ed Marinaro over Pat Sullivan.
SEC schools have won only seven Maxwell awards since it debuted in 1937. Two Georgia Bulldogs, Charlie Trippi and Herschel Walker, won the Maxwell, and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets QB Joe Hamilton won the O’Brien.