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Syracuse is one of 17 schools in the nation to have multiple nominees on the 2024 Maxwell Award Watchlist, revealed Monday afternoon. Quarterback Kyle McCord and running back LeQuint Allen Jr. were among 80 players named in the preseason list for the award, which recognizes college football’s most outstanding player at the end of the season.

Twenty nominees for the Maxwell Award are from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech join Syracuse as ACC programs with two or more nominees. The Orange had one player named to last year’s preseason list — tight end Oronde Gadsden II.

McCord, an incoming transfer from Ohio State, is SU’s most high-profile player and head coach Fran Brown’s top transfer commit. McCord was a five-star recruit out of high school at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, per 247Sports. The 6-foot-3 signal caller started one full season with the Buckeyes in 2023, earning All-Big Ten Third-Team honors. McCord threw for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and completed 66% of his passes while going 11-1 as a starter.

Allen Jr. is set to be one of McCord’s most lethal weapons out of the backfield. The tailback enters this season fresh off an All-ACC Second-Team campaign, where he came into his own after spending 2022 as Sean Tucker’s backup. Allen Jr. ran for 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns last year, and also tallied 38 receptions for 210 receiving yards. He currently ranks 37th in program history with 1,338 rushing yards.