McFADDEN AND OLAJUBUTU NAMED TO NATIONAL AWARD WATCH LISTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden and linebacker Sam Olajubutu have been named to watch lists for The Maxwell Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award, respectively, it was announced by The Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate player of the year while the Bednarik Award is presented to the outstanding defensive player of the year. The respective watch lists include a field of 60 candidates for each of these awards as selected by the Maxwell Football Club Advisory Committee. Additions and subtractions to the lists, based on player performance, will be made throughout the 2006 football season. "It is an honor for Darren and Sam to be named as pre-season candidates for these prestigious national awards," Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said. "Both of these young men are valuable members of our team and among the best in the nation at their respective positions. With the help of their teammates, they have been able to accomplish some outstanding things in their time at Arkansas. We are all looking forward to another great season from Darren and Sam." Players selected to these initial watch lists have distinguished themselves as all-conference or All-America selections from their respective universities in past years. Underclassmen are selected based on recommendations from the Maxwell Football Club Advisory Committee. McFadden is a candidate for 70th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year. The North Little Rock product is one of only 11 sophomores to be included on the pre-season list. McFadden was an honorable mention All-America selection last season after rushing for 1,113 yards and 11 touchdowns. The consensus freshman All-American was also named as a first-team All-Southeastern Conference running back and the SEC Freshman of the Year. Olajubutu is listed among the pre-season candidates for the 12th Chuck Bednarik Award for the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. The LaGrange, Ga., product has already been named to the national watch lists for the Lombardi Award, the Lott Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Olajubutu earned honorable mention All-America accolades and first-team All-SEC honors last season after racking up 118 tackles including 14.5 (-80) tackles for loss. He ranked third in the SEC in tackles and tallied an SEC single game-high 18 tackles against Auburn. Twelve semi-finalists for each award will be announced in October 2005 and the field will be trimmed to three finalists in November 2005. The winners of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show that will be broadcast on ESPN in December 2006. The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Banquet in March 2007.