RRS NOTES: Tide's Coleman-Williams, Auburn's Brown, Cobb included on Maxwell watch list; Biscuits' Pitre included in MLB trade
Ryan Coleman-Williams, seen here during his visit at the recent SEC Kickoff Media Days, has been included on the 2026 Maxwell Award Watch list. (Courtesy Southeastern Conference)
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
Alabama’s Ryan Coleman-Williams was selected to the 2026 Maxwell Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
Also included on the list were Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown and former Catholic star running back Jeremiah Cobb.
Coleman-Williams is among 81 players from around the country named to the preseason list. The Maxwell Award has been presented annually since 1937 by the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia to recognize the top player in college football. Semifinalists for the Maxwell will be announced on Nov. 10 with three finalists unveiled on Nov. 24. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced on Dec. 10 as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Cobb had 969 yards on 175 carries a year ago, leading the Tigers. He added five TDs. Brown set records for the USF Bulls in several offensive categories before transferring to the Plains.
Alabama has had five Maxwell winners in program history, all of which have come since 2013. Bryce Young secured the Maxwell following a record-setting 2021 campaign, one year removed from DeVonta Smith taking home the hardware as part of a decorated 2020 season. Prior to Smith, Tua Tagovailoa was recognized with the award in 2018, joining record-setting running back Derrick Henry (2015) and former All-American AJ McCarron (2013) as the Crimson Tide’s other winners in program history.
Biscuit second baseman Pitre part of Rays trade with Mets
The Montgomery Biscuits have lost at least one player before Monday’s MLB trade deadline.
And more may be coming.
Biscuits infielder Emilien Pitre was traded on Sunday along with two other members of the Tampa Bay minor league system for New York Mets starter Freddie Peralta.
Primarily a second baseman, Pitre played in 39 games for the Biscuits, hitting .323 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. He had an on-base percentage of .451 and added 11 stolen bases.
The Biscuits ( ) are currently in the middle of a 12-game road swing, completing a six-game set with Biloxi on Sunday. They move on to Pensacola beginning Tuesday.
Montgomery returns home Aug. 11 for a six-game set against Columbus.
AHSAA Board waves annual dues
The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced that $2.2 million will be distributed to AHSAA member schools through the Steve Savarese Grant Program. The total payout for the Savarese Grants Program has now exceeded $30 million since its inception in 2009-2010. The Central Board also voted for the 35th consecutive year to waive the membership dues for all schools. That is a combined savings of close to $90,000 annually for the schools and over $3 million total savings since 1991.
The board also mandated in baseball that three area games count toward team area standings and in basketball that any member school that does not have a properly mounted shot clock cannot host a cannot host a varsity contest.