Syracuse running back Jerome Smith joined 74 other players on the 2013 Maxwell Award Watch List Monday.

The Maxwell Award is annually given to the best player in college football. Smith is one of eight ACC players on the list. As the leading returning rusher in the conference — 1,171 yards, 5.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns in 2012 — he is preseason All-ACC per Athlon and Phil Steele.

He is the only SU player on the Maxwell list.

While winners can come from outside the initial list, semifinalists are announced Oct. 29 and three finalists will be named Nov. 25. The winner will be announced Dec. 12.

The Maxwell Award has been given annually since 1937 in honor of former player, writer and official Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell. The only Syracuse player to win the award was Don McPherson in 1987.