Allen named to watch list for Maxwell Award

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Conference’s top passer from 2016, Arkansas senior quarterback Austin Allen, was named to the watch list for the 81st Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937.

Last year in his first season as the Razorbacks’ top signal-caller, Allen immediately made his mark by leading the SEC with 3,430 passing yards, including a league-best 2,291 in conference play, in 2016.

He finished with 25 touchdown passes, which ranked second in the conference, completed 61.1 percent of his passes (245 of 401) and boasted a 146.04 passer rating.

His 3,430 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes each ranked fifth in single-season school history. Of his 25 touchdown passes, 19 came inside the red zone, which led the SEC and tied for 10th in the FBS.

The Fayetteville product threw for 200-plus yards in 11 games, including four 300-plus yard performances in SEC play.

Allen is one of three student-athletes who will represent the Razorbacks on Monday at SEC Football Media Days in Hoover, Alabama, joining coach Bret Bielema and fellow seniors Frank Ragnow and Kevin Richardson.

Arkansas will be the first school to make its rotation through the SEC Media Day floor, participating in multiple interviews with various media outlets from 11:35 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.