PHILADELPHIA -- San Diego State running back Greg Bell, linebacker Caden McDonald and defensive end Cameron Thomas each were named to preseason watch lists recognized by the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) on Monday. Bell is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award powered by Mammoth Tech, which goes out to America's college player of the year, while McDonald and Thomas are each on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List powered by Mammoth Tech for the college defensive player of the year.
The Aztecs are one of just 40 schools with at least one player on both the Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists. Additionally, SDSU's three Maxwell/Bednarik watch list selections are tied for the seventh most among the FBS schools, trailing only six programs - Alabama, Clemson, Indiana, Iowa State, Ohio State and Oklahoma - which have four picks apiece. San Diego State is also one of only four Group of 5 schools with three players on one of the two watch lists (also Appalachian State, Cincinnati and Nevada).
Last season, Bell ran for 637 yards on 113 attempts (5.6 avg.) and six touchdowns in seven games, while adding 11 catches for 114 yards (10.4 avg.) and another touchdown. Bell became the first player in SDSU's storied running back history to begin his Aztec career with three straight (and four straight) 100-yard rushing games. Bell averaged 91.0 rushing yards per game despite effectively missing the better part of three games. He ran for 28 yards on 10 attempts while battling an injury suffered on SDSU's third offensive play at Nevada, missed the next game at Colorado before playing only two snaps against Colorado State, rushing once for four yards. Taking away those three games, Bell averaged 120 yards per contest with games of 111 (UNLV), 157 (Utah State), 109 (San José State), 160 (Hawai'i) and 68 (Brigham Young). Despite the injuries, Bell earned second-team all-MW honors.
Bell also has been chosen as a preseason all-Mountain West second-team selection by both Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports, and a third-team pick by Pro Football Focus. Additionally, Bell was named SDSU's second-best offensive player by College Football News.
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 time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
McDonald, meanwhile, is coming off a breakout season in 2020 where he totaled 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss for 48 yards, 4.5 sacks for 33 yards, 10 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and a forced fumble, starting all eight of the team's games. For his efforts, he was named a first-team all-MW selection. His best game came against UNLV on Oct. 24 when he posted career highs of eight tackles, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries en route to being named the MW Defensive Player of the Week. His 2.5 sacks matched the most by a SDSU player since Jay Henderson's three sacks vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 30, 2017.
McDonald has been named preseason all-MW first-team pick by Athlon Sports, a second-team selection by Phil Steele Magazine and a fourth-team pick by Pro Football Focus as an edge defender. He was also named SDSU's best defensive player by College Football News.
Thomas had another great season in 2020, moving over from defensive tackle to defensive end midway through the season, totaling 35 tackles (21 solo) in eight starts, including 9.5 tackles for 48 yards of loss, four sacks for 34 yards and 14 quarterback hurries. Thomas, who was named a first-team all-MW pick and the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year for a second straight season, also ranked second in FBS in 2020 in quarterback pressures (37) among DI (defensive interiors) in just eight games according to Pro Football Focus, only two short of Alabama's Christian Barmore's 39 accomplished in 12 games. He recorded 27 of his 35 tackles over the final three games, including a career-high 14 tackles (11 solo), a 12-yard sack, a career-best three tackles for loss at Colorado en route to being named to the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week.
Thomas has been selected to the preseason all-MW first team by Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus (interior defensive lineman), and is listed as SDSU's second-best defensive player by College Football News.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, 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.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 1, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 22. The winners of the 2021 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 9. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Tropicana Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on March 11, 2022.
SDSU finished 4-4 last year with its four losses coming to teams that went a combined 29-6 (.829).
San Diego State will play seven of its 12 games in 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., and will have only one road contest over the first six weeks of the season. The 2021 home slate features high-profile games against Utah, Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada. Five of the six FBS opponents that the Aztecs will play host to this season finished the 2020 campaign with a .500 or better record. SDSU opens 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Sept. 4 against New Mexico State.
San Diego State football season tickets are available now, starting at just $149, and fans can select their seats when ordering online at GoAztecs.com/tickets. Additionally, three-game mini plans, starting at just $65, are also currently on sale, while single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date. For questions, please contact the Aztec Athletic Ticket Office, either by email at aztix@sdsu.edu, or by phone at 619-283-7378.
Aztec Football Trio on Preseason Watch Lists
