Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week

Each week during the 2025 season the Maxwell Football Club will recognize an outstanding performance by a college freshman with the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week award. The Shaun Alexander Player of the Week will be recognized for overall performance on offense, defense or special teams and players selected do not have to be represented on the Shaun Alexander Award preseason watch list.

Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award- Player of the Week

RB – Shaun-King Miller

USC

USC running back Shaun-King Miller has been named the Shaun Alexander Player of the Week after a dominant showing in the Trojans’ statement win over Michigan. The freshman exploded against one of the nation’s top defenses, carrying the ball 18 times for 158 yards and averaging an impressive 8.7 yards per carry, while also scoring a touchdown.

Miller’s performance was the spark USC needed to take down Michigan, as he consistently found openings in the Wolverines’ defense and helped the Trojans keep control of the game. He finished with 217 all-purpose yards, proving to be a true difference-maker for USC and one of the nation’s top-performing freshmen this week.

The Maxwell Football Club and the Shaun Alexander Award have once again partnered with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications as selection committee partners. PFF provides detailed metrics and performance-based assessments to selection committee staff, with several senior PFF analysts are members of our selection committee. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is generally recognized as the most complete preseason magazine.

Questions concerning the 2025 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week can be directed to MFC Executive Director Mark Wolpert mwolpert@maxwellfootballclub.org or MFC Vice President of College Awards Rich Cirminiello rcirminiello@maxwellfootballclub.org.

ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership.

ABOUT THE SHAUN ALEXANDER FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD – The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander a former standout at the University of Alabama and 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season. The Alexander Award is all about championing future legends and evaluates players based on Talent, Character, Ambassador and Legend.

Past winners include; Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) – 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis)-2019 and Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) – 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) – 2021, Drake Maye (North Carolina) 2022, Caleb Downs (Alabama) 2023 and 2024 Colin Simmons (Texas).