NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn has been named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the college football player of the year.
Vaughn, a senior from Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville, is one of seven running backs from the Southeastern Conference listed among 80 players nationally named to the Maxwell Award watch list.
This marks the third consecutive year that a Vanderbilt offensive standout has been named to the Maxwell Award watch list. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur and running back Ralph Webb were recognized in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The Maxwell Award announcement comes just three days before Vaughn and two fellow Commodore All-America candidates – wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb and tight end Jared Pinkney – are to join head coach Derek Mason at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama.
Coming off a sensational junior season, Vaughn has received plenty of preseason attention this summer. In addition to the Maxwell Award recognition, Vaughn has been named to preseason All-America teams by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, and to an abundance of All-SEC squads.
Vaughn finished the 2018 season with 1,244 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns. He also ranked among the nation’s elite with a 7.9-yard rushing average, the highest ever by a Vanderbilt running back with at least 100 carries.
Vaughn also capped his junior year with one of the finest individual performances in Vanderbilt history, rushing for 243 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries (18.6 yards/rush) against Baylor in the Texas Bowl. His performance included three rushes longer than 65 yards.
Vaughn and the Commodores open the year Aug. 31 on campus, hosting SEC East opponent Georgia. Kickoff for the opener is at 6:30 p.m.
Besides Georgia, Vanderbilt’s home schedule includes LSU on Sept. 21, Northern Illinois on Sept. 28, UNLV on Oct. 12, Missouri on Oct. 19, Kentucky on Nov. 16 and East Tennessee State on Nov. 23.
Season tickets for the 2019 are available at the same rates as a year ago. Season-ticket packages for the Commodores’ seven-game home schedule starts at only $308 for premium sideline seats and $178 for reserve end zone sections of Vanderbilt Stadium. Tickets can be purchased here.
