The Maxwell Award Player of the Week

Each week during the 2025 season the Maxwell Football Club will recognize outstanding performances with two weekly awards. The Maxwell Award Player of the Week will be recognized for overall performance on offense, defense or special teams, and the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week will be honored for outstanding defensive play. Players selected do not have to be represented on the Maxwell or Bednarik Award watch list.

Maxwell Award

Player of the Week

QB – Gunner Stockton

Georgia

Georgia’s Gunner Stockton has been named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week for his outstanding game last weekend, leading the Bulldogs to a 43 – 35 victory over Ole Miss. Stockton threw 289 passing yards for a career-high 4 touchdowns going 26-for-31 (83.9% completion rate). Stockton also had 10 carries for 59 rushing yards which brought in his fifth touchdown of the game. In the second half alone, Stockton threw for 135 yards going 12-for-12, bringing Georgia back from a nine point deficit in the third quarter. Stockton’s performance gave him a 204.7 RTG and sets the stage for Georgia’s next game against the University of Florida November 1.

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Bednarik Award

Player of the Week

ED – Yhonzae Pierre

Alabama

Yhonzae Pierre delivered a dominant defensive performance for Alabama in their 37–20 win over Tennessee on Saturday. The edge rusher racked up six total tackles, including three tackles for loss and three sacks, showcasing his explosiveness and relentless motor. Pierre also pressured Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar into a second-quarter safety, a pivotal moment that swung momentum in Alabama’s favor. With injuries along the defensive front, Pierre seized the opportunity to step into a larger role and made the most of it. His speed off the edge and ability to disrupt plays in the backfield were instrumental in stifling Tennessee’s offense. Pierre’s outstanding effort not only helped secure the win but also solidified his status as a rising defensive force for the Crimson Tide.

The Maxwell Football Club has 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 Maxwell & Bednarik Award Players 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.

The Maxwell and Bednarik Awards are members of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.