July 9, 2012

UCLA senior running back Johnathan Franklin was included today on the watch list for the 76th annual Maxwell Award which honors America's outstanding college football player.

Franklin, an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2011, came up just short in his bid for a second-straight 1,000-yard rushing season. However, his 976 yards, on 166 carries, did move him into ninth on the all-time UCLA rushing list. Franklin averaged a career-best 5.9 yards per carry in 2011 and had three 100-yard rushing games, capped off by a 162-yard effort against Colorado. It marked the 10th career time he has met or exceeded the century mark.

In 2010, Franklin led the Bruins in rushing with 1,127 yards, the 10th-best season mark in school history and a total which almost doubled his output as a freshman. He became UCLA's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006 (Chris Markey) and posted the highest Bruin rushing total since Skip Hicks ran for 1,282 yards in 1997.

The Maxwell Award has been given to America's outstanding collegiate football player since 1937, and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell. Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced October 29, and the three finalists will be unveiled November 19. The winners of the 2011 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on December 6. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 1, 2013. For additional information on the award, check out the club's website at www.maxwellfootballclub.org .

UCLA opens the 2012 season at Rice on August 30 and then is home in the Rose Bowl for three straight games. On Sept. 8, Nebraska comes to Pasadena for a 4:30 p.m. game. The Bruins host Houston (7:30 p.m.) on Sept. 15 and then open up Pac-12 Conference play by welcoming Oregon State on Sept. 22 (start time tba). For ticket information, please call UCLA-WIN.