Awards tracker: Alabama football K Will Reichard named to Groza Award watchlist
Preseason watchlists for college football's national awards have begun tumbling in, and Alabama football will be heavily represented. Below is a look at each award that has placed a Crimson Tide player on its watchlist:
Groza Award: K Will Reichard
The big prize for kickers, the Lou Groza Award, named Alabama's Will Reichard as one of 30 players to watch for 2023. Reichard is among the nation's most consistent field goal kickers, and has been a regular on the Groza list for four years. He didn't miss a kick in 2020 (84 PATs, 14 FGs) and was a finalist for the Groza honor that season. Last year, Reichard was a Groza semifinalist after connecting on 22 of 26 field goal tries. Reichard initially planned to turn pro last December, but opted to return to UA for one more season after a change of heart.
Maxwell Award: RB Jase McClellan
Annually presented to the nation's most outstanding player, the Maxwell Award named Alabama's top returning running back one of 84 players to watch in 2023. McClellan, a senior, rushed for 655 yard on 112 carries last year for the Crimson Tide, ranking second on the team behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Alabama has dominated the Maxwell Award field over the last decade, producing half its winners over that span, including 2013 (AJ McCarron), 2015 (Derrick Henry), 2018 (Tua Tagovailoa), 2020 (DeVonta Smith) and 2021 (Bryce Young).
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Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23 and the Talkin' Tide podcast. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football K Will Reichard named to Groza Award watchlist
