Explosive Canes Duo Named to Maxwell Award Watch List

Courtesy UM

PHILADELPHIA – Miami Hurricanes offensive weapons Stacy Coley and Duke Johnson has been named to the 2014 Maxwell Award Watch List, announced Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.

The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including as a player, a sportswriter and an official.

A second-team All-ACC performer in 2013, Johnson rushed for 920 yards and six TDs in eight games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. The Miami native enters his junior season with 1,867 career rushing yards in 20 games. Last month, Johnson was named third-team Preseason All-America by Phil Steele and was one of 40 FBS running backs named to the 2014 CFPA Running Back Trophy Watch List.

Coley was named to the 2014 Paul Hornung Award Watch List on Monday. As a freshman in 2013, Coley, a third-team All-ACC selection by the league’s coaches and honorable mention by ACSMA, led the Hurricanes with 1,461 all-purpose yards – the 10th-highest single-season total in program history. He also the team with seven receiving touchdowns, while ranking second in receiving yards (591) and third in receptions (33). A Freshman All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Coley was the only FBS player in 2013 to record a TD four different ways – rushing, receiving, punt return and kick return.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 3 and the three finalists will be unveiled November 24. The winner of the 2014 Maxwell Award will be announced December 11 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club's selection committee, which analyzes both past performance and future potential. The Club reserves the right to make additions and deletions to these lists as the 2014 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA sports information directors, FBS head coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for the awards.

Miami (9-4, 5-3 ACC) opens the 2014 season Sept. 1 against new ACC member Louisville at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Secure your seats to Miami’s home games vs. Florida State and North Carolina (Homecoming) today with a Two-Game Mini-Plan. Plans start at just $108 and include the same seat to both games plus a complimentary hat ($30 value). For more information or to order online, visit CanesTix.com.

The University of Miami has launched the $7 million Football Victory Fund to address the most important needs of the football program. There are a variety of ways to contribute to the Football Victory Fund as well as to Hurricanes Athletics. For more information on how you can donate and details of the pending projects, please call the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6699 or visit umvictoryfund.com.