Award’s Growing Prestige
The Maxwell Football Club, the organization behind the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, announced this week that 37 players from across the nation have been placed on the 2026 watch list, among them three standouts from the University of Alabama.
EJ Crowell, a five‑star running back who re‑classified after his junior season, arrives in Tuscaloosa with a prep‑year total of 2,632 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, positioning him as the top‑rated back in the state.
Defensive back Jireh Edwards, also a five‑star prospect, earned MaxPreps junior All‑American honors in 2024 after compiling 92 tackles, 17 of which came behind the line of scrimmage, underscoring his playmaking ability.
Quarterback Keelon Russell, the reigning Texas and national Gatorade Player of the Year, has been tabbed as Alabama’s starter for the 2026 campaign and is viewed as the centerpiece of the Crimson Tide’s offensive rebuild.
The award, established in 2018 to celebrate the most outstanding freshman in college football, has already yielded notable alumni such as Will Anderson, Jr. in 2020 and Caleb Downs in 2023, both of whom have gone on to impact the program at the highest level.
Selection proceeds with 14 semifinalists to be revealed on November 14, followed by three finalists on December 2, culminating in the award presentation on December 28.