HUNTINGTON, W.Va.– Thundering Herd junior quarterback Rakeem Cato has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List by the Maxwell Football Club. The award is given annually to best player in college football.
Cato was named the Conference USA Most Valuable Player, throwing for 4,232 yards, 350 yards per game, and led C-USA in pass efficiency. His 37 touchdown passes ranked third in the country. Cato’s career completion percentage of 66.2 percent is currently the best in Marshall history, clipping marks set by Chad Pennington (65.1) and Bryon Leftwich (63.4).
Running back Darius Marshall is the last Thundering Herd player to be named to the Maxwell list. Marshall was added to the list in October 2009 after leading the nation in rushing and all-purpose yards through the first five games of the season.
Cato is one of three players in C-USA that have been named to the watch list.
Semifinalist will be named on Oct. 29th and the three finalist will be announced on Nov. 25th. The winner will be unveiled during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12th.