The Maxwell Award is one of the most coveted awards in college football. It recognizes the most outstanding player in the country evaluating their excellence on the field and exceptional contributions for the game. Yesterday, it was announced that Notre Dame starting quarterback CJ Carr was announced to the 2026 Maxwell Award Watchlist. The Saline, Michigan native has garnered a lot of preseason attention. Carr is the preseason favorite on outlets like FanDuel to win the Heisman Trophy. He's also one of the highest rated 2027 NFL Draft prospects and one of the top returning signal callers in the country. Carr is coming off of his first year under center. He went 10-2 as a starter in 2025, threw for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and rushed for an additional three scores. The 6-2, 215-pound signal caller is the first returning starter head coach Marcus Freeman has had during his tenure. Expectations for the Fighting Irish are sky-high coming into this year and Carr is a major driver of that conversation. As a first year starter, Carr threw a touchdown pass in all 12 games last season which is the longest streak by a Notre Dame starting quarterback since Everett Golson in 2014. Out of the 12 regular season games he played in, Carr threw multiple touchdown passes in nine of those games while also rushing for three touchdowns. Among all returning Power Four signal callers, Carr was ranked No. 1 in yards per completion (14.06) and ranked second in yards per attempt (9.35) and touchdown rate (8.2%). We've seen the Michigan native make big time throws on the big stage and the moment hasn't been too big for the junior quarterback. There's areas he will have to continue to improve, but he's projected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country in 2026. There have only been six Notre Dame players in program history to have won the award. Carr has the opportunity to be the seventh player to win the award. Their first winner was tight end Leon Hart in 1949 followed by half back John Lattner in 1952 and 1953. Linebacker Jim Lynch won the award in 1966 and defensive end Ross Browner won the award in 1977. There was a break then quarterback Brady Quinn won the Maxwell in 2006. Linebacker Manti Te'o won the award in 2012 and was the last winner from South Bend. Quarterbacks On The Maxwell Award Watch List Liam Szarka, Air ForceNoah Fifita, ArizonaCale Hellums, ArmyByrum Brown, AuburnDJ Lagway, BaylorMaddux Madsen, Boise StateBear Bachmeier, BYUJaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, CaliforniaJulian Lewis, ColoradoNick Minicucci, DelawareCaden Celtkamp, Florida AtlanticGunner Stockton, GeorgiaMicah Alejado, HawaiiConner Weigman, HoustonJosh Hoover, IndianaCaden Creel, Jacksonville StateAvery Johnson, Kansas StateSam Leavitt, LSUCarlos Del Rio-Wilson, MarshallDarien Mensah, MiamiBryce Underwood, MichiganBraxton Woodson, NavyCJ Bailey, NC StateAnthony Colandrea, NebraskaCJ Carr, Notre DameJulian Sayin, Ohio StateJohn Mateer, OklahomaDrew Mestemaker, Oklahoma StateTrinidad Chambliss, Ole MissDante Moore, OregonRocco Becht, Penn StateMason Heintschel, PittsburghKevin Jennings, SMULaNorris Sellers, South CarolinaArch Manning, TexasMarcel Reed, Texas A&MBrad Jackson, Texas StateAlonza Barnett, UCFNico Iamaleava, UCLA Jackson Arnold, UNLVJayden Maiava, USCDevon Dampier, UtahOwen McCown, UTSADemond Williams, WashingtonBroc Lowry, Western Michigan ------ Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!Join the Irish Breakdown community!Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunesFollow me on Twitter: @TTrow5Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Source: Yahoo Sports