Longhorns duo tabbed to Maxwell Award watch list
Manning, who will be entering his third college, will be the Longhorns' starting QB. Last season, the New Orleans native got an extended look when Quinn Ewers was injured and did not disappoint. He completed 61 of his 91 passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a threat on the ground with 108 yards on 25 carries. As Manning excelled under center, Wisner was a force out of the backfield.
During the 2024 campaign, Wisner took his game to another level. He set career highs in rushing yards with 1,064 and touchdowns with five. After only averaging 5.2 yards a game the year before, that number skyrocketed to 70.9. Regardless of who the Longhorns played, Wisner showed why he is one of the most talented backs in the SEC.
With Wisner and Manning back in the mix, expectations are high for what the Longhorns' offense will accomplish. Manning has the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and Wisner should continue to see a high snap count. Last season, they showed they could be a lethal scoring combination.
While the winner of the Maxwell Award won't be announced for months, to will be cutdown to three finalists on Nov.25. The winner of the 89th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11. Each year the award is given to the College player of the year.
Although Wisner's and Manning's goal is to bring a national title to Texas, some extra hardware would not be a reason to celebrate. Manning and Wisner are well-positioned to make that dream a reality. If they can meet expectations, then they should be among the semifinalists at the very least.
The last time two Longhorns were in the running was in 2023, when Quinn Ewers and Xavier Worthy were recognized.
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