It is August, and that is proof college football is on the horizon. The later portion of the month is reserved for games, while the early portion is for preseason festivities.
Preseason watchlists are a staple of the final month of the offseason, as players of all positions from all over the country are recognized prior to the season’s first kickoff. There are 16 preseason watchlists recognized by the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Here are the players from the American Conference that received recognition on those watchlists in 2026:
Maxwell Award
Release date: August 3
Who wins this award? “Presented annually to the top player in the nation.”
American selections:
- Cale Hellums, QB, Army (Sr.)
- Caden Veltkamp, QB, Florida Atlantic (Sr.)
- Braxton Woodson, QB, Navy (Sr.)
- Owen McCown, QB, UTSA (Sr.)
Full list (81 members)
