Texas Tech junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was named to the Maxwell Award watch list Tuesday which is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate player.
 
Mahomes is the fifth Red Raider quarterback since 2005 to be named to the preseason watch list, joining the likes of Cody Hodges (2005), Graham Harrell (2007-08), Seth Doege (2012) and Davis Webb (2014).
 
The Whitehouse, Texas native is coming off a stellar sophomore campaign where he was among the top passers in the country. He totaled 4,653 passing yards and added another 456 yards on the ground for a Tech offense that ranked among the best units in the country.
 
Mahomes, just in his true sophomore season, became the youngest quarterback in NCAA history to surpass 5,000 yards of total offense in a season. He is one of just 13 quarterbacks all-time to reach the mark as well.
 
In addition, Mahomes helped push to a record-setting season offensively as the Red Raiders ended the year ranked second in the country for total offense, scoring offense and passing offense. Tech averaged 45.1 points per game, the highest single-season mark in program history.
 
Mahomes led Tech into the endzone 36 times through the air plus an additional 10 times on the ground. His 10 rushing touchdowns matched Rodney Allison’s single-season school record for a Tech quarterback.
 
Following his successful start to the 2015 campaign, Mahomes was added to the watch lists for both the Maxwell and Manning Awards. He was also a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the conference coaches.
 
The Maxwell Award is named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, who contirubted to the game of college football in multiple ways as a player, sportswriter and an official. The award has been presented to the top collegiate player nationally since 1937 with former Alabama running back Derrick Henry claiming the honor in 2015.
 
The Red Raiders open the 2016 season on Sept. 3 with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Stephen F. Austin.

The Red Raiders open the 2016 season on Sept. 3 with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Stephen F. Austin.