College Football: 5 favorites who could win 2017 Maxwell Award

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Last, but certainly not least, Sam Darnold has to be considered the favorite to win both the Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy. He’s widely considered the top quarterback in the nation after his scorching-hot final 10 games of the 2016 season.

The redshirt freshman didn’t begin the season as the presumed starter, but took over after the third game in which USC was already 1-2. Max Browne was struggling to lead the Trojans and lost his starting job to Darnold after the horrid start. He took over against Utah, which was a lost, and passed for over 250 yards on 18-of-26 completions.

With a 2-3 record, it looked like Clay Helton’s USC career would be a short-lived one, but appointing Darnold the starter would pay huge dividends despite the loss in his first start. He then led the Trojans to eight straight victories as they made it to the Rose Bowl against red-hot Penn State.

The Trojans made a major comeback to win the Rose Bowl, 52-49, and he passed for 453 yards and five touchdowns, completing 33-of-53 passes.

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Darnold finished the season with 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns with nine picks, completing 67 percent of his passes. He is already looking like an NFL-ready quarterback and the top prospect for 2018.

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