July 7, 2015
PHILADELPHIA - San Diego State junior running back Donnel Pumphrey is one of 80 players on the 2015 Maxwell Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced today. The award is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell and is given to America's college player of the year.
Pumphrey is the first Aztec to appear on the Maxwell Award Watch List since running back Adam Muema in 2013. Other SDSU standouts who were preseason candidates for the award include running backs Lynell Hamilton (2006) and Ronnie Hillman (2011), and quarterback Ryan Lindley (2011).
The Las Vegas, Nev., native is one of six players, including one of three at his position, from a California school. At the Mountain West level, he is one of three on the list and the lone running back.
As a sophomore last season, Pumphrey set a San Diego State single-season record with 1,867 yards and 20 touchdowns on 276 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. He also caught 23 passes for 260 yards (12.3 avg.) en route to being named a first-team all-MW performer.
Being named to the watch list is one of many preseason honors Pumphrey has racked up this summer. To date, he has been named Mountain West MVP by two publications (ESPN and Lindy's Sports) and a first-team selection by Phil Steele, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Lindy's Sports and ESPN.
SDSU football season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now. They can be purchased at GoAztecs.com, by calling (619) 283-7378 or visiting the Aztec Athletic Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium Window E.
San Diego State, one of 27 schools to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons and one of just three from the "Group of 5" conferences, finished 2014 with a 7-6 record and 5-3 in MW action. To date, four preseason publications have the Aztecs winning the West Division of the Mountain West in 2015.