A Prestigious Watch List
Justice Haynes, the Georgia Tech senior running back, has been selected for the 2026 Maxwell Award preseason watch list, a 81‑player roster that highlights the nation’s most promising college football talent.
Haynes arrives in Atlanta after a standout season at Michigan, where he amassed 857 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games. His 7.1 yards per carry topped the Big Ten, and his 122.4 rushing yards per game led the conference, underscoring a rare blend of efficiency and production.
The watch list inclusion follows a collegiate career that began at Alabama in 2023, where he contributed across three seasons. In his college tenure, Haynes has averaged 6.5 yards per rush, produced 19 touchdowns, and logged seven 100‑yard games, a testament to his consistent impact on the field.
Established in 1937, the Maxwell Award honors the nation’s top college football player, with semifinalists to be revealed on November 10, 2026, and the final three finalists announced a week later. The award’s 90th edition will culminate at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 10, 2026, where the winner will be crowned.
Georgia Tech is gearing up for the upcoming season opener against Colorado on September 3, 2026, a night game at Bobby Dodd Stadium that will stream nationally on ESPN. The Yellow Jackets, who finished 2025 with a 9‑4 record and a No. 24 ranking — their highest since 1999 — are looking to build on a 6‑2 Atlantic Coast Conference run that placed them second in the league.
The team’s recent momentum is reinforced by a streak of top‑four finishes in ACC standings over the past three seasons, making Haynes’ recognition a symbolic milestone for a program that continues to rise. As the Yellow Jackets open fall camp, the buzz surrounding Haynes adds a narrative of optimism for fans and analysts alike.