HOOVER, Ala. — Mississippi State juniors running back Kylin Hill, cornerback Cam Dantzler and linebacker Erroll Thompson have been named to the Maxwell and Bednarik Award watchlists, respectively, per a news release Monday.
MSU is one of four SEC teams with a player named to both watch lists.
The Maxwell Award honors the nation’s top collegiate football player while the Bednarik is given to Defensive Player of the Year.
Hill, a Columbus native, rushed for 734 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and added another 176 yards and four touchdowns receiving in an injury-plagued 2018 season.
He earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors after a 211-yard, three-touchdown outburst against Kansas State Sept. 8 in Manhattan last year.
Dantzler totaled 43 tackles and two interceptions last season. He was named a 2018 second team All-SEC performer for his efforts and was honored as a second team preseason All-American by Phil Steele earlier this offseason.
Thompson will serve as the Bulldogs’ defensive captain in 2019 after notching 87 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year.
Alabama running back Najee Harris, quarterback Tua Tagavailoa and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy were among those also named to the Maxwell watch list, while defensive end Raekwon Davis and linebacker Dylan Moses were named to the Bednarik list.
Ole Miss running back Scottie Phillips was named to the Maxwell list as well.
Semifinalists for both awards will be revealed Oct. 29. The three finalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik will be released Nov. 25 and the winners will be announced Dec. 12 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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