Maxwell Award Watch List: Ranking the Top 10 Candidates

The Heisman Trophy goes to the most "outstanding" college football player, but it is the Maxwell Award that is awarded to the college football player of the year. These are the players that make the ultimate difference for their team and are a huge reason for their teams overall success.

With college football less than two months away from kickoff, the watch list for this prestigious award has been released.

There are many difference makers and playmakers that will make a case for this award, but only a few that standout and truly have a shot.

Here are the top 10 candidates for the 2012 Maxwell Award.

10. Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas

Assuming Knile Davis has fully recovered from last year's ankle injury; he is instantly one of the top running backs in the country. He missed all of the 2011 season, but did rush for over 1,300 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns in 2010. 

With a solid quarterback in Tyler Wilson leading the way, Davis should have enough running room and plenty of opportunities to repeat what he did two years ago. 

9. Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Landry Jones seems to be that quarterback that everybody forgets to mention, despite him throwing for over 4,000 yards the last two seasons. The end of last year really did not help his case, but this is still one of the better quarterbacks in the country. 

The wide receiver position is a serious question for the Sooners, but there aren't many quarterbacks that are as experienced or have the track record that Jones has heading into 2012.

8. De’Anthony Thomas, RB/WR, Oregon

There is not a player who is more of a threat to take it the distance than Oregon Ducks' De’Anthony Thomas. The sophomore running back is the definition of a speedster, who many times would not be down if he was playing two hand touch. 

He had 1,200 total yards last season and scored 18 total touchdowns. With no more LaMichael James around, expect Thomas to get even more touches, which is better for us because he is extremely fun to watch.

7. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Geno Smith may very well be the best quarterback in the Big 12, even if it is the Mountaineers first season in the conference. He really grew as a player last season, completing 65 percent of his passes for over 4,300 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

With all of the weapons around the senior quarterback and playing in a conference that isn't known for defense, Smith should have an even bigger year in 2012.

6. Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

It is hard for defensive players to win an award like this, but LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is not your usual defensive player. This is somebody who has a nose for the football and seems to make big play after big play, whether it is on defense or special teams. He led the Tigers with 76 tackles last season, scored two touchdowns and recovered four fumbles.

He finished fifth in the Heisman voting last season and with Morris Claiborne no longer around, this unit belongs to the Honey Badger.

5. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

Aaron Murray had a terrific season in 2011 despite playing behind a terrible offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 32 times. He still threw for over 3,100 yards and 35 touchdowns, including four games of at least four touchdown passes.

With another year under his belt, and his young receivers returning, Murray should quickly emerge as one of the better quarterbacks in the entire country this season.

4. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

Denard Robinson is without question the most exciting player to watch in college football. He has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards and rushed for over 3,000 throughout his three-year career at Michigan. He can kill defenses with either his feet or arm, but must limit his turnovers. (30 career interceptions)

If he can reduce the amount of mistakes he makes, Robinson will finally be eligible to win many college football awards in 2012.

3. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin

Montee Ball is going to once again be the workhorse for this Wisconsin Badgers team. He carried the ball 307 times last year and finished with a ridiculous 1,923 yards and scored 39 total touchdowns, tying a record with some guy named Barry Sanders. He somehow fell short to Andrew Luck for this award, but let him produce those numbers again and he will likely win more than just the Maxwell Award.

2. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

There are many backs you could make an argument for as the top running back, but there aren't any that are as consistent as South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore. He rushed for over 1,100 yards in 2010 and scored 19 total touchdowns. In 2011, he averaged five yards a touch, rushed for over 800 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in only seven games.

If he is fully recovered from a knee injury that forced him to miss half the season, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be a contender for many awards and give the Gamecocks a chance to win the SEC East.

1. Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Quarterback Matt Barkley returned for his senior season for only one reason, to win a national championship. However, we all know that being a quarterback for a title contender includes winning a few awards as well. Last season, Barkley had the best year of his career, completing 69 percent of his passes for over 3,500 yards and 39 touchdowns.

With all of the weapons around him and playing in the Pac-12, the senior quarterback should be the favorites for pretty much every college football award, including the Heisman Trophy.