University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
McGuire Repeats As Maxwell Award Watch List Candidate
7/5/2016 1:54:00 PM | Football
Senior heads into final season third on UL rushing chart
PHILADELPHIA – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns running back Elijah McGuire picked up his first preseason honor of the 2016 football season when he was named to the 80th annual Maxwell Award Watch List on Tuesday.
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McGuire, who was named to the Watch List last season, rushed for a team-high 1,058 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while hauling in 34 passes and three TDs.
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He joined former Ragin' Cajuns great Tyrell Fenroy (2005-08) as the second running back in school to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and finished sixth in the SBC in rushing (87.2) and was seventh in the league in all-purpose yards (119.2).
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McGuire recorded three 100-yard rushing games on the season, including 162 yards with a school-record tying five TDs in the Ragin' Cajuns home opener against Northwestern State. He added a season-high 170 yards on a career-high 28 carries in a Sun Belt Conference-opening victory against Texas State and gained 159 yards against New Mexico State.
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The Houma, La., native, who is third on the school's all-time rushing list with 3,185 yards, became the first running back in Ragin' Cajuns history to record 100 receptions in a career and finished the season as one of two active NCAA players with 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving
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The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
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The watch lists will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast. Returning Maxwell Award finalists Clemson's quarterback Deshaun Watson and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey lead the way for the 2016 watch list class. Baylor and Clemson lead the pack with 3 Maxwell Award candidates each as we enter the season.
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McGuire, who was named to the Watch List last season, rushed for a team-high 1,058 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while hauling in 34 passes and three TDs.
Â
He joined former Ragin' Cajuns great Tyrell Fenroy (2005-08) as the second running back in school to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and finished sixth in the SBC in rushing (87.2) and was seventh in the league in all-purpose yards (119.2).
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McGuire recorded three 100-yard rushing games on the season, including 162 yards with a school-record tying five TDs in the Ragin' Cajuns home opener against Northwestern State. He added a season-high 170 yards on a career-high 28 carries in a Sun Belt Conference-opening victory against Texas State and gained 159 yards against New Mexico State.
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The Houma, La., native, who is third on the school's all-time rushing list with 3,185 yards, became the first running back in Ragin' Cajuns history to record 100 receptions in a career and finished the season as one of two active NCAA players with 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving
Â
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
Â
The watch lists will once again incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs and conferences from coast to coast. Returning Maxwell Award finalists Clemson's quarterback Deshaun Watson and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey lead the way for the 2016 watch list class. Baylor and Clemson lead the pack with 3 Maxwell Award candidates each as we enter the season.
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Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballMichael Desormeaux Media Availability (Oct 20, 2025)
Monday, October 20
Jaden Dugger Media Availability (Oct 18, 2025)
Sunday, October 19
Lunch Winfield Media Availability (Oct 18, 2025)
Sunday, October 19
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Oct 18, 2025)
Sunday, October 19
