July 8, 2013
PHILADELPHIA - San Diego State juniors Adam Muema (Covina, Calif.) and Jake Fely (Oceanside, Calif.) were both named to Preseason Award Watch Lists on Monday.
Muema was named to the 2013 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List, given annually to America's college Player of the Year since 1937. Meanwhile, Fely was selected to the 2013 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List, awarded to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995.
Muema has already earned all-Mountain West honors from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. Last season, Muema rushed for 1,458 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to being named second-team all-MW. He also caught nine passes for 147 yards and a score.
Fely, also a 2012 second-team all-MW selection, was second on the team last season with 90 total tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss, while recording a team-high seven sacks. He was also named to the Phil Steele and Athlon Sports preseason all-MW first team this summer.
The Maxwell Award is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, whose extensive contributions to football include as a player, a sportswriter and official.
The Bednarik Award is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of '69 and the NFL Hall of Fame's Class of '67.
The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club's selection committee, which analyzes both past performance and future potential.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Award will be announced on Oct. 29, and the three finalists for each award will be unveiled on Nov. 25. The winner of the 2013 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, held on Dec. 12.