The Maxwell Football Club

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 – Trinidad Chambliss

Ole Miss

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss earns Maxwell Player of the Week honors after putting on a show in one of college football’s most heated rivalries. In the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State, Chambliss showcased elite command and composure, completing 23 of 34 passes for 359 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Rebels to a convincing road victory. Under the bright lights and pressure of a packed Davis Wade Stadium, he delivered big throws in key moments, spreading the ball efficiently and keeping the Rebel offense rolling all night. His performance not only fueled Ole Miss to a statement win but also cemented his reputation as one of the SEC’s most dependable and dynamic quarterbacks.

Bednarik Award

Player of the Week

CB – John Nestor

Minnesota

John Nestor delivered a career-defining performance in Minnesota’s 17-7 win over Wisconsin on Saturday, anchoring the defense with two interceptions, two tackles for loss, and nine total tackles in snowy conditions. Nestor proved to be the difference-maker in a rivalry game that secured Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the Gophers for the fourth time in five years. The former Iowa transfer showcased his instincts and toughness, repeatedly shutting down Wisconsin drives and flipping momentum with timely takeaways. His pair of interceptions in the second half effectively sealed the game, frustrating Wisconsin’s passing attack and energizing the home crowd. Nestor’s defensive heroics stood out as the clear MVP performance, cementing his role as one of Minnesota’s most impactful transfers this season.

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.