The Maxwell Award named Illinois running back Chase Brown to its watch list, the Maxwell Football Club announced.
The Maxwell Award 
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the College Player of the Year. This award is presented in honor of Robert W. (Tiny) Maxwell, legendary college player, official and sports columnist. It is voted on by NCAA Head College Football Coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club & sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.
- Full Watch List
- Last three winners: Bryce Young (Alabama), DaVonta Smith (Alabama) Joe Burrow (LSU)
- Led Illinois with 170 carries for 1,005 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, along with 14 receptions for 142 receiving yards in 2021
- Only returning player in the nation with two of the nation's top 17 rushing games from 2021
- Third in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (100.5) in 2021
- Fifth in the Big Ten and 27th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.9) in 2021
- Seventh in the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,005) in 2021
- Seventh in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards per game (114.7) in 2021
- 13th in the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns (5) in 2021
- Tied for the team lead with five total touchdowns in 2021
- Two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in 2021
- Ran for 223 yards on 33 carries and one touchdown at #7 Penn State to help Illinois win the longest game in college football history (20-18, 9 OT)
- Joined Howard Griffith (1990) and Rashard Mendenhall (2007) as the only players in program history with multiple 200-yard rushing games in a single season
- Brown's 223 rushing yards at #7 Penn State were the most ever by an opponent at Beaver Stadium and the fourth-most ever against Penn State
- Brown's 223 rushing yards at #7 Penn State were the most ever by an Illini against a ranked opponent
- Career-high 257 rushing yards on 26 attempts and two touchdowns with an average of 9.9 yards per carry against Charlotte 10/2/21
- Brown's 257 yards against Charlotte were the fourth-most in a single game in program history
- Rushed for 147 on 30 carries in Illinois' road win over No. 20 Minnesota 11/6/21
- The first Illini with two 145+-yard rushing games on the road since Rashard Mendenhal in 2007
| YEAR |
TEAM |
G |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
AVG/C |
AVG/G |
| 2018 |
WMU |
13 |
71 |
352 |
0 |
29 |
5 |
27.1 |
| 2019 |
ILL |
4 |
3 |
18 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
4.5 |
| 2020 |
ILL |
8 |
104 |
540 |
3 |
39 |
5.2 |
67.5 |
| 2021 |
ILL |
10 |
170 |
1005 |
5 |
80 |
5.9 |
100.5 |
| ILL TOTAL |
|
22 |
277 |
1563 |
8 |
80 |
5.6 |
71.0 |
| TOTAL |
|
35 |
348 |
1915 |
8 |
80 |
5.5 |
54.7 |
