June 26, 2006
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State junior running back Lynell Hamilton (Edison HS/Stockton, Calif.) has been selected as one of 60 players named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list. The award, sponsored by the Maxwell Football Club, is given out annually to college football's player of the year.
A year ago, Hamilton rushed for a team-high 819 yards on 190 attempts and nine touchdowns while playing in 11 games. He also caught 26 passes for 144 yards.
Hamilton is the only player from a Mountain West Conference school named to the list and is the first in school history to be up for the prestigious award. He joins Antwan Applewhite (Nagurski Trophy and Hendricks Award) as Aztecs named to preseason award watch lists so far in 2006.
The 2003 MWC Freshman of the Year was also a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the nation's top collegiate running back, each of the last two seasons.
Past recipients include Jason White, Eli Manning, Larry Johnson and last season's winner, Texas quarterback Vince Young.