Stefon Diggs named to Maxwell and Hornung watch lists for second consecutive year

Junior wide receiver Stefon Diggs was named to both the 2014 Maxwell Award Watch List and the 2014 Paul Hornung Award Watch List on Monday.

The Maxwell Football Club announcement on Monday named Diggs among 74 other college football players for the 78th annual Maxwell Award, named after Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, and given to the country's best college football player since 1937.

Diggs was on the 2013 Maxwell watch list but saw his chances to steal the award away from eventual winner A.J. McCarron come to an end after breaking his leg in the Wake Forest game. Other notable returning names on the 75-player list include Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon, Oregon State QB Sean Mannion, Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, Baylor QB Bryce Petty and returning finalist Florida State QB Jameis Winston. Semifinalist this year will be announced on November 3, and the three finalist will be named on November 24. The winner of the 2014 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11.

The Louisville Sports Commission also released their watch list for the Paul Hornung Award this morning, and Diggs claims a spot on there as well, as one of the nation's 47-most multifaceted players.

Hornung is often referred to as the best all-purpose player in the history of football, having played every position in the backfield along with punter, kicker, kick returner, and defensive back during his storied career at Notre Dame. As the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, Hornung is appropriately nicknamed the "Golden Boy," and his award, now in its fifth year, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

As Maryland's "Golden Boy," Diggs certainly fits that mold, racking up more than 900 all-purpose yards in just seven games last season. This year's watch list contains 22 of the top 100 all-purpose players from 2013 according to yards per game average, including the top two - Ty Montgomery from Stanford and Jamarcus Nelson from UAB. UCLA's Myles Jack is the only returning finalist.

As one of college football's most dynamic playmakers, Stefon Diggs is used to being watched. Scouts, coaches, and fans have all been keeping an eye on Diggs ever since he was one of the most highly touted recruits in high school. And the hype around the multi-talented athlete has certainly carried over into his career as a Terp, landing on two of college football's most prestigious award watch lists for the second year in a row.

Ironically enough, the ACC and Big Ten are tied as the leading conferences that have players on the list with 10 players each.

B1G on @hornungaward watch list: A Abdullah, K Bell, V Bentley, S Calhoun, S Diggs, A Hunt, K Martin-Manley, V Mark, D Wilson, S Wynn

— ESPN Big Ten (@ESPN_BigTen) July 7, 2014