Howell, Reed Named Semifinalists by Maxwell Football Club
Nov 10, 2025 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Texas A&M redshirt senior defensive end Cashius Howell and redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed were honored as semifinalists by the Maxwell Football Club, the organization announced Tuesday.
Howell was selected one of 17 nominees for the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, while Reed was named one of 13 candidates for the 89th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year.
Howell, a Kansas City, Missouri, product leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 1.2 sacks per game. The game-changer has logged 10.5 sacks and pressured the opposing quarterback 34 times in nine contests (3.8 per game), according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The 6-2, 248-pound pass rusher has logged at least 1.0 sack in six-of-nine games, including a career-high 3.0 against Utah State. Howell has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week four times and received Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors after logging a sack on three-straight plays against Utah State. Howell was chosen a midseason All-American by the Associated Press, Athlon, The Athletic, CBS Sports and The Sporting News.
Reed, a Nashville, Tennessee, native has been a driving force behind a strong Aggie offense that ranks No. 17 nationally in total offense (459.8) and in the top 30 in passing efficiency, scoring, red zone offense and time of possession. Reed's dual-threat ability has him ranked No. 21 nationally in total offense with 285.7 yards per game. He averages 8.0 yards per play, which ranks ninth among FBS quarterbacks. The 6-1, 185-pound signal caller has accounted for 25 total touchdowns (19 pass/6 rush) and is tied No. 12 in the country in points responsible for (16.7 per game). He averages 243.7 passing yards per game, while ranking ninth nationally in yards per completion (14.0) and No. 20 in yards per attempt (8.7).
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with PFF and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts who are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.
A strong field of Maxwell Award semifinalists includes representatives from three conferences and one independent, with the Big 10 boasting six candidates, followed by the SEC with five. The class of candidates features nine quarterbacks, two running backs, and two wide receivers.
On the defensive side of the ball, six different conferences and one independent are represented, led by seven student-athletes each from the SEC and three each from the Big 10 and Big 12.
Semifinalist voting for both collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club begins on Monday, Nov. 17 and closes on Nov. 24. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 27, and 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 89th Maxwell Award and the 31st 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 Thursday, December 11, 2025. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 89th Maxwell Awards Gala, which will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Howell was selected one of 17 nominees for the 31st Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, while Reed was named one of 13 candidates for the 89th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year.
Howell, a Kansas City, Missouri, product leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 1.2 sacks per game. The game-changer has logged 10.5 sacks and pressured the opposing quarterback 34 times in nine contests (3.8 per game), according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The 6-2, 248-pound pass rusher has logged at least 1.0 sack in six-of-nine games, including a career-high 3.0 against Utah State. Howell has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week four times and received Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors after logging a sack on three-straight plays against Utah State. Howell was chosen a midseason All-American by the Associated Press, Athlon, The Athletic, CBS Sports and The Sporting News.
Reed, a Nashville, Tennessee, native has been a driving force behind a strong Aggie offense that ranks No. 17 nationally in total offense (459.8) and in the top 30 in passing efficiency, scoring, red zone offense and time of possession. Reed's dual-threat ability has him ranked No. 21 nationally in total offense with 285.7 yards per game. He averages 8.0 yards per play, which ranks ninth among FBS quarterbacks. The 6-1, 185-pound signal caller has accounted for 25 total touchdowns (19 pass/6 rush) and is tied No. 12 in the country in points responsible for (16.7 per game). He averages 243.7 passing yards per game, while ranking ninth nationally in yards per completion (14.0) and No. 20 in yards per attempt (8.7).
The Maxwell Football Club has once again partnered with PFF and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts who are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele's College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.
A strong field of Maxwell Award semifinalists includes representatives from three conferences and one independent, with the Big 10 boasting six candidates, followed by the SEC with five. The class of candidates features nine quarterbacks, two running backs, and two wide receivers.
On the defensive side of the ball, six different conferences and one independent are represented, led by seven student-athletes each from the SEC and three each from the Big 10 and Big 12.
Semifinalist voting for both collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club begins on Monday, Nov. 17 and closes on Nov. 24. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 27, and 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 89th Maxwell Award and the 31st 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 Thursday, December 11, 2025. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards will take place at the 89th Maxwell Awards Gala, which will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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