Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate (14) points skyward after his 49-yard rushing touchdown during the third quarter.
Arizona sophomore quarterback Khalil Tate was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, an accolade given to the best college football player of the season, per Maxwell Football Club.Β
The Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee announced the list on Monday and the semifinalist pool consists of 18 players including Tate and three other Pac-12 players such as USC's Sam Darnold, Stanford's Bryce Love and Oregon's Royce Freeman.
Other notable quarterbacks mentioned is last year's Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, Alabama's Jalen Hurts, Ohio State's J.T. Barrett and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield.Β
Voting for three finalists begin Tuesday and will extend through Sunday, Nov. 19. The finalists will be announced Nov. 20 and the Home Depot College Awards Show will be televised on Dec. 7.
Ever since taking over the starting quarterback role, Tate has rushed for 840 yards in October, the most yards by any Power Five in the last 10 years. He's also recorded at least one rush for over 70 yards including an 82-yard run against Washington State last week, which is the longest by any quarterback in school history.Β Β
While Tate continues to showoff his running abilities, he's also contributed to the passing game in that span, throwing for 743 yards with a 71.75 completion percentage.
Plus, Tate became the first player since Rodney Peete in 1988 to win Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week in three consecutive weeks. Tate's performance has lifted the Wildcats into bowl eligibility and a place in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2015 and now his name is placed on the national stage as one of the premiere talents in college football.Β
No. 23 Arizona plays No. 17 USC in Los Angeles for a 7:45 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on ESPN.Β Β
