Jefferson, Sanders named to Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List

The backfield duo of KJ Jefferson and Raheim “Rocket” Sanders have been named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list. They were two of 85 players on the watch list for the award given to the best player in college football each year.

✌️ Hogs named to @TheMaxwellAward Preseason Watchlist!@kj_jefferson2 @raheim_sanders 📈 pic.twitter.com/SXiVja1qoZ

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) July 31, 2023

This is the second consecutive year that Jefferson has been named to the prestigious award’s watch list. The Sardis, Miss. native is set to break a lot of program records in 2023, which is his third year running the Razorback offense. Currently, Jefferson sits in the top 10 in program history for seven different records. He very well could break each of them this season.

Jefferson was one of just six SEC quarterbacks SEC named to the award watch list. Devin Leary (Kentucky), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Will Rogers (Mississippi State), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) and Joe Milton (Tennessee) were the other five.

Sanders is making his first appearance on the award’s watch list. The Rockledge, Fla. native is coming off an incredible 2022 season that saw him rush for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns. That marked the fourth-most by a running back in a single season in Razorback history.

Last season, Sanders finished second in the SEC in rushing, which earned him first team All-SEC honors. He is one of three SEC running backs named to the award watch list. Jase Mclellan (Alabama) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) are the other two.

The Razorbacks will begin their season on Sept. 2 in Little Rock when they take on Western Carolina. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.