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UCLA Football: Joshua Kelley makes to the Maxwell Award watch list

By Mike Regalado

PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 06: Running back Joshua Kelley #27 of the UCLA Bruins runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at the Rose Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 06: Running back Joshua Kelley #27 of the UCLA Bruins runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at the Rose Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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UCLA football’s stellar senior running back, Joshua Kelley, has been named to the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, which honors the best all-around player in the nation.

It is that time of the year, ladies and gentlemen. Starting today, the college football preseason award watch lists will be announced over the next two weeks. And on this first day, the UCLA football team already has a player named to one of these lists as redshirt senior Joshua Kelley has been named the Maxwell Award watch list.

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The Maxwell Award, which is given by the Maxwell Football Club every year, honors the best all-around player in the nation.

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Kelley is among 80 players that have been named to the prestigious award and it is no wonder why. Last year, the former walk-on burst onto the scene after an amazing campaign that started midseason and saw him become one of the best running backs in the Pac-12 Conference.

Kelley was instrumental in helping the Bruins improve the efficiency of their offense as he averaged 113.0 yards per game, ran for over 100 yards in six games and ran for a record 289 yards against USC, the most any player has recorded in the history of the crosstown showdown.

Kelley was also very proficient in the passing game as he caught for 193 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per reception.

This year, Kelley looks to continue off of his incredible 2018 performance as he will be the featured back in Year 2 of Chip Kelly’s tenure at UCLA. What will be interesting is how much he improves, especially since he will be playing at a high level from the start of the season and not just midyear.

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Congratulations, Kelley. This is a great way to start the season.