ATLANTA -- Georgia State quarterback
Darren Grainger is one of 85 players named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.
The Maxwell Award has been presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Grainger, the super senior from Conway, S.C., enters his third season as the Panthers' starting quarterback. The 2022 All-Sun Belt Conference selection has started GSU's last 23 games and accounted for 46 touchdowns (37 passing, nine rushing). He also earned Preseason All-Sun Belt recognition by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Grainger passed for 2,433 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022 while completing 58.6 percent of his passes with just seven interceptions. He was second in the Sun Belt and No. 10 in FBS with 14.04 yards per completion.
Also GSU's leading rusher, Grainger gained 734 yards (No. 9 in Sun Belt) on the ground while scoring six touchdowns; making him third in the Sun Belt in total offense with 264.8 yards per game.
Grainger enters his final seaosn ranked second in program history in TD passes and TD responsibility, fourth in passing yards (4,158) and total offense (5,552) and seventh in rushing yards (1,394 yards, first among quarterbacks). Including two seasons at Furman, he has 5,561 career yards passing and 52 touchdowns, along with 1,747 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns for 7,308 yards of total offense and 66 TDR in 42 games.
Grainger and the Panthers open preseason practice Tuesday to begin preparations for Georgia State's season opener on Thursday, Aug. 31 vs. Rhode Island at Center Parc Stadium. Tickets are on sale now by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 13, 2023, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 28, 2023. The winners of the 87th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 7, 2023. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
