Just about all the SEC schools with playoff hopes has at least one player named to the watch list: Ryan Williams from Alabama, Nate Frazier of Georgia, Garrett Nussmeier and Caden Durham of LSU, Quintrevion Wisner and Arch Manning of Texas and LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina.

This week, the Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 2025 Maxwell Award, given annually to college football’s Most Outstanding Player. Drones was one of 80 players named to the list. The 6-foot-2 quarterback struggled with multiple injuries last season, but was recently given a clean bill of health ahead of fall camp.

Former Longview Lobo and current Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King and former Rusk Eagle and current UTSA quarterback Owen McCown were named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.