Mayfield, Okoronkwo Semifinalists for Awards

NORMAN — Oklahoma senior quarterback Baker Mayfield was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award on Monday, while OU senior linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo has earned the same distinction for the Butkus and Bednarik Awards.

The Maxwell Award is presented to the collegiate player of the year, the Bednarik Award goes to the nation's best defensive player and the Butkus is given to the top linebacker.

Mayfield leads Power Five quarterbacks and is second in the country in completion percentage (.725), passing efficiency rating (195.6) and yards per pass attempt (11.14). He's completed 171-of-236 passes this year with 23 touchdowns to just three interception while throwing for 2,628 yards and rushing for 190 yards and another four scores.

Okoronkwo has been one of the most consistent pass rushers in the country this year, registering at least a half sack in all but one game this season and a least one full sack in six of eight contests. He leads the Big 12 and ranks 11th nationally with 7.0 sacks on the year, paces the Big 12 and is tied for fifth nationally with three forced fumbles, and ranks second in the conference and tied for 12th in the country with 13.0 tackles for loss.

Semifinalist voting for both the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 31 and will close on Nov. 19. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 20 and a second round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.

The winners of the 81st Maxwell Award and the 23rd Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be broadcasted live on ESPN on Dec. 7, 2017. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club's Awards Dinner on Friday, March 9, 2018, in Atlantic City, N.J.

Selection for the Butkus Award is handled by a panel of 51 coaches, recruiters, scouts and journalists who vote separately and confidentially using a 3-2-1 process. Finalists will be announced Nov. 20, and the winner will be announced on or before Dec. 5.

No. 8/9 Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) plays at No. 11/10 Oklahoma State (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday in Stillwater. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on FS1.