Oct. 30, 2017
PHILADELPHIA -
San Diego State senior running back Rashaad Penny (Norwalk, Calif.) is a semifinalist for the 81st Maxwell Award, which honors the collegiate player of the year, the Maxwell Football Club announced today.
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This is the second straight year an Aztec has been a semifinalist for the award after Donnel Pumphrey became the program's first semifinalist last season. Penny is one of 18 semifinalists for the award and is one of two from a Group of Five school (also McKenzie Milton of UCF).
One of the top running backs in the nation this season, Penny leads the country in all-purpose yards (1,799), ranks second in rushing yards (1,368), total touchdowns (15) and points scored (90), is third nationally in all-purpose yards per game (199.89) and has the fourth-most rushing yards per game (152.0). This year, he was the second Aztec in school history and first since Marshall Faulk in 1992 to start a season with six straight 100-yard rushing games. Penny is the only player in FBS this year with at least one rushing touchdown, one receiving touchdown and one kick return touchdown in the same game (against Arizona State).
Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 31 and will close on Nov. 19. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 20 and a second round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.
The winners of the Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 7, 2017.
Led by Penny's career-high 253 yards and two touchdowns, SDSU is coming off a 28-7 victory at Hawai'i to improve to 3-2 in conference and 7-2 overall. The Aztecs play at San José State on Sat., Nov. 4. Kickoff against the Spartans (1-8, 0-4 MW) on ESPNU is set for 7:30 p.m.