Cincinnati Bearcats running back Corey Kiner makes preseason Maxwell Award list

University of Cincinnati senior running back Corey Kiner was one of 80 players selected to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

The Maxwell Award, presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937, is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.

Kiner is the first Bearcat to earn a spot on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list since Desmond Ridder in 2021.

The former Ohio Mr. Football out of Roger Bacon rushed for 1,047 yards and five touchdowns last season, posting the 20th 1,000-yard rushing season in program history. He had six 100-yard rushing efforts, including a high of 153 in the win against Pitt. Kiner averaged 87.3 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked eighth in the conference.

Kiner returns to run behind his entire starting offense line from a year ago, as all five starters from 2023 are back. The Bearcats are one of two teams in the Big 12 to return a 1,000-yard rusher and its entire starting offensive line, with Oklahoma State being the other.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 12, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 26. The winners of the 88th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held Dec. 12. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats running back Corey Kiner makes preseason Maxwell Award list