Junior-to-be Marquess Wilson accomplished a lot during his first two seasons in Pullman and apparently those accomplishments drew some well deserved national attention. On Monday, Wilson was one of 65 players named to the Maxwell Award watch list.
The Maxwell Award is given to the nation's most outstanding player. Wilson is the first WSU player to make the watch list since Brandon Gibson in 2008. Semifinalists will be named on October 29, before three finalists are announced on November 19. The winner will be named at the ESPN college football awards on December 6.
While being named to the watch list is a great honor, Wilson is unlikely to win the award and it has nothing to do with how many yards he gains or touchdown passes he catches in 2012. The last nine winners of the Maxwell award are quarterbacks and no wide receiver has won since Desmond Howard in 1991.
The watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation's best receiver, will be announced on July 17 and Wilson figures to be one of the top contenders.
Football
Preseason position reviews: Offensive line - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Washington State: The good news is there are three returning starters, including John Fullington, who was honorable mention All-Pac-12. The bad news is 3.3 yards per rush and 40 sacks surrendered in 2011, most in the conference. Of course, one of the trademarks of Mike Leach's pass-happy offense is that it gets rid of the ball quickly. That should be good news for the Cougs.
WSU's Wilson named to Maxwell watch list | KREM.com Spokane
On Monday the Maxwell Football Club announced the watch list for the 2012 Maxwell Award, and its 65 nominees included Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson.
2012 PAC 12 North Division Odds and Picks - News - Stories - Pregame.com
Washington State Cougars (12-1): The always entertaining Mike Leach takes over a downtrodden Washington State program; however, there are reasons for optimism in Pullman. In addition to Leach, who garnered 84 wins at Texas Tech, the team brings back 14 starters and 44 lettermen from a squad that won four games in 2011 (its most since 2007). The Cougars are nowhere near winning the North Division, but their opposition should take notice of them in 2012.
Pac-12 on Maxwell, Bednarik watch lists - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State