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Junior Florida State running back Cam Akers was named to the 2019 Maxwell Award Watch List today for the second year in a row. The award has been given to the nation’s college player of the year since 1937.
The Mississippi native broke FSU’s freshman rushing record in 2017 that was previously held by running back Dalvin Cook and enters the 2019 season ranked 18th in program history with 1,730 career rushing yards:
The Florida State running back entered 2018 with plenty of buzz as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, but a rough 5-7 year for FSU football, combined with an ankle injury, and an abysmal offensive line stunted Aker’s growth. He recorded a team-best 866 all-purpose yards with 706 rushing yards, 145 receiving yards and 15 kickoff return yards in 2018. He tied for fourth in the ACC and 14th nationally with three 50-yard runs, including a career-long 85-yard carry that was the seventh-longest rush in program history:
Despite enduring the dreaded sophomore slump, Akers is hungry and been putting in work this off season. He is still considered to be one of the nation’s top backs.
Last week 315 now 350lbs. “There’s no force in the world like the focused drive, you gotta focus on yourself like an only child. Make your dream realer, and make your team better. Wake your game up and make your scheme better” #WHOAINTGOTNOBACKS #GONOLES @thereal_cam3 pic.twitter.com/53T2oyR8FN
— Donte' Pimpleton (@coach_pimp) June 25, 2019
The Maxwell Football Club will announce semifinalists on October 29, 2019 and finalists on November 25, 2019.