PROVO, Utah – BYU quarterback Jaren Hall is in the thick of watch list season.

The fifth-year junior was among 85 players named to the 2022 Maxwell Award preseason list.

The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch list for the 86th Maxwell Award presented annually to the outstanding player in college football. Check out who made the list here ⬇️

For more information on #MaxwellFootball head to…https://t.co/WLP97tKb4b pic.twitter.com/tdxUyTnss7

— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) July 18, 2022

One of the most prestigious awards in college football, the Maxwell Award goes to the sport’s top player annually.

Last season was Hall’s first year as BYU’s full-time starting quarterback and he performed well, passing for 2,583 yards and completing 64% of his passes.

Jaren Hall among top QBs in college football

A dual-threat athlete, Hall is a pass-first quarterback who had the tall order of replacing New York Jets signal-caller Zach Wilson last season. Hall passed with flying colors posting a record of 8-2 as the starting quarterback.

Hall is one of 42 quarterbacks that made up the Maxwell Award preseason watch list.

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick believes Hall has endless potential leading BYU’s offense in his second full season as the starter.

“It surprises me how sort of unnoticed it went, how great he played. He didn’t just play well; he was great,” said Roderick to KSL Sports. “He was one of the best quarterbacks in the country last year. I would not trade him for anybody in college football and I mean that.”

Hall is leading his hometown team

With Hall not having to worry about a QB competition, this off-season has allowed Hall to become the face of BYU’s program heading into the 2022 season. Hall leads a BYU program that he watched as a kid with his father, Kalin, being a former running back for the Cougars.

“It’s my hometown, you know, BYU; I’m from here. I’ve always dreamed of playing quarterback at BYU,” Hall said to KSL Sports. “So every day, it’s a dream come true. Every day it’s a blessing just to have my family with me to do it. It’s just a family thing, you know? So that’s what drives me to be the best quarterback I can be here at BYU. And you know, just everything this university stands for; what I want to be part of, I think it’s part of who I am with my upbringing. So it’s just a blessing to be here.”

BYU has produced one Maxwell Award winner in its history. That was Ty Detmer in 1990.

Hall was the only BYU player on the 2022 preseason watch list. He will begin his path towards trying to lay claim to the Maxwell Award on Saturday, September 3, when BYU takes on the South Florida Bulls in Tampa.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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