Dart Named Maxwell Semifinalist, Nolen and Paul Jr. Named Bednarik Semifinalists

PHILADELPHIA –(Release) Ole Miss football senior quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, while junior defensive tackle Walter Nolen and junior linebacker Chris Paul Jr. have both been named semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee on Tuesday.

Dart is one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which in its 88th year of honoring the top collegiate player of the year. Nolen and Paul Jr., meanwhile, are among 20 total semifinalists and one of two teammate duos alongside Texas for the Bednarik Award, which is in its 30th year recognizing the most outstanding defensive player of the year.

This season, Dart owns a passing line of 211-of-298 (70.8 percent) for 3,409 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions and an efficiency rating of 188.6. On the ground, Dart owns 304 yards and three scores, pushing his total offense to an FBS-leading 371.3 yards per game. Dart also leads the FBS in passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt (11.4), while leading the SEC and ranking FBS top-10 in passing yards (FBS No. 2), yards per completion (16.2; FBS No. 3), passing yards per game (340.9; FBS No. 4), passing touchdowns (FBS No. 6) and completion percentage (FBS No. 7).

At 26-9 as a starter with the Rebels, Dart owns the most wins by any Ole Miss starting quarterback of the modern era since Archie Manning’s first start in 1968. Last season, Dart led the Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history at 11-2 – capped by a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State – and this season he has led Ole Miss to a current No. 10 ranking and recently helped lift the Rebels to a historic 28-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia.

As a Rebel, Dart owns a passing line of 670-of-1,018 (65.8 percent) for 9,747 yards, 65 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 163.4. His 1,307 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground also make him one of the best rushing quarterbacks in Ole Miss history – 31 yards shy of Matt Corral’s record 1,338. Dart already owns Ole Miss career marks in total offense (11,054) and 300-yard passing games (13), while closing in on several other career and season records – including Eli Manning’s career passing yard total of 10,119.

Nolen and Paul Jr. have helped lead a fearsome Rebel defensive squad that leads the nation in both sacks (46) and tackles for loss (103), while also ranking FBS top-10 in rushing defense (second, 79.9 ypg), scoring defense (sixth, 12.9 ppg) and red zone defense (eighth, 69.2 percent).

On the year, Nolen has 32 tackles (16 solo) with 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three QB hurries, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Nolen is currently PFF’s No. 7 rated interior defensive lineman nationally at an 84.8 overall grade (No. 2 SEC), while his run defense grade of 90.6 leads the SEC and ranks third among all FBS interior defenders.

Nolen was on preseason watch lists for the Walter Camp, Outland, Lombardi and Nagurski awards, and was added midseason to the Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists.

Paul Jr., meanwhile, leads Ole Miss in tackles with 74 total stops (44 solo), with 10.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks, nine QB hurries, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He was recently named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, given out annually to the top linebacker in the nation,

Per PFF, Paul Jr. ranks second among all defenders and reigns as the top linebacker in the nation at an overall grade of 91.0 – one of only two linebackers nationally with a grade above 90 and the only one in the SEC. Elsewhere in the PFF ranks, Paul Jr. ranks third in coverage (90.7; No. 1 SEC) and 15th in run defense (88.0; No. 5 SEC, No. 4 LB).

Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Tues., Nov. 12 and will close on Nov. 23. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 26and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media. All semifinalists are listed in alphabetical order by school with the player’s school, position and class designated.

The winners of the 88th Maxwell Award and the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be broadcast live on ESPN on Thurs., Dec. 12. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 88th Maxwell Awards Gala, which will be held on Fri., March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Maxwell Award Semifinalists

Bryson Daily, QB – Army

Jaxson Dart, QB – Ole Miss

Quinn Ewers, QB – Texas

Dillon Gabriel, QB – Oregon

Omarion Hampton, RB – North Carolina

Travis Hunter, ATH – Colorado

Ashton Jeanty, RB – Boise State

Kaleb Johnson, RB – Iowa

Cade Klubnik, QB – Clemson

Jalen Milroe, QB – Alabama

Diego Pavia, QB – Vanderbilt

Kurtis Rourke, QB – Indiana

Dylan Sampson, RB – Tennessee

Shedeur Sanders, QB – Colorado

Cam Skattebo, RB – Arizona State

Cam Ward, QB – Miami (FL)

Bednarik Award Semifinalists

Jahdae Barron, CB – Texas

Jihaad Campbell, LB – Alabama

Abdul Carter, DE – Penn State

Caleb Downs, S – Ohio State

Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE – Boston College

Mason Graham, DT – Michigan

Mike Green, DE – Marshall

Jay Higgins, LB – Iowa

Anthony Hill Jr., LB – Texas

Travis Hunter, CB – Colorado

Mikail Kamara, DE – Indiana

Kyle Kennard, EDGE – South Carolina

Walter Nolen, DT – Ole Miss
Chris Paul Jr., LB – Ole Miss

James Pearce Jr., EDGE – Tennessee

Antwaun Powell-Ryland, DE – Virginia Tech

Nic Scourton, DE – Texas A&M

Malaki Starks, S – Georgia

Xavier Watts, S – Notre Dame

Nohl Williams, CB – Cal

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports