BYU Notebook: Slovis, Robbins make Maxwell Watch List

PHILADELPHIA — BYU senior quarterback Kedon Slovis and junior running back Aiden Robbins have both been named to the watch list for the 87th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.
The 2023 Maxwell Award list includes 85 players from 69 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, with 16 schools having two players represented. Since 1937, The Maxwell has been presented to the College Player of the Year and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and later a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Slovis, from Scottdale, Arizona, transferred to BYU in the offseason after spending three years at USC and the 2022 season at Pitt. The senior signal caller started 37 of the 38 games he has played in over four years from 2019-22. His career passing yards of 9,973 ranks No. 13 among active quarterbacks in the FBS. Slovis was named first-team All-Pac 12 by the Associate Press and Phil Steele in 2020 after leading the nation in completions per game (29.5) and finishing sixth in passing yards per game (320.2), 13th in total offense (310.7) and 18th in completion percentage (.670).
As a freshman in 2019, Slovis was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and was named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and Pro Football Focus. He was also a semifinalist for the FWAA National Freshman of the Year.
Slovis passed for 7,576 yards as a Trojan, ranking him seventh all-time at USC. His career 58 touchdown passes also ranks him No. 5 in school history.
Robbins is also a transfer, having played the 2022 season at UNLV, where he led the Rebels in rushing with 209 carries for 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns. In 11 games at UNLV, Robbins averaged 4.8 yards per carry, while also catching 23 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
In addition to being on the watchlist for the Maxwell Award, Robbins was named to the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 First Team and to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team.
Prior to attending UNLV, Robbins appeared in three games over two seasons for Louisville, rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Robbins was an executive member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Louisville, where he graduated with degree in business marketing. He is pursuing an MBA at BYU.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 13, with the three finalists for the Award being unveiled Nov. 28. The winners of the 87th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 7. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.
Riggs earns preseason accolades
HARRISBURG, Pa. — BYU long snapper Austin Riggs has been named to the watch list for the 2023 Patrick Mannelly Award, presented annually to the top long snapper in college football.
Riggs, a junior from Eagle, Idaho, has appeared in 28 games for the Cougars over the past three seasons (2020-22) as the long snapper. Coming off an injury-shortened season in 2022, Riggs first earned the starting role as a freshman in 2020 on punt team and then added field goal and PAT duties to his role as the team’s primary snapper.
In 2021, Riggs played in all 13 games helping BYU achieve a 10-3 season and No. 19 final ranking. He delivered on-target deep snaps on 39 punts throughout the season as well as all of his PAT and field goal snaps. He has added three tackles on special teams during his three seasons.
The Patrick Mannelly Award was created in 2019. It was named in honor of Patrick Mannelly, widely known as one of the premier long snappers in the modern NFL era.
Ten semi-finalists for the 2023 award will be announced on Nov. 13. That list will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 27. The winner will be announced at a live award ceremony in Lake Bluff on Dec. 9.
BYU women’s golf adds transfer
Cougar golf coach Carrie Roberts announced the addition of transfer Lily McCauley on Monday. McCauley will join the BYU for the 2023-24 season with three years of eligibility.
“We are so excited for Lily to join our team this year,” said Roberts. “She is super competitive and will bring a positive energy to our group that will elevate everyone. Lily gained some great experience by competing in the Pac-12 last year, and we are eager for her to arrive on campus and compete for us.”
The Olympia, Washington native spent the 2022-23 season at Washington State University. As a true freshman, McCauley appeared in five tournaments with a scoring average of 78.80. She tied for 39th at the 2023 Pac-12 Championship as she carded her lowest 18-hole score of 1-over in the second round.
During her prep career, McCauley won the 2019 Washington Junior Golf Association State Championship, took third at the 2021 AJGA Junior at Big Sky and posted three top-10 finishes at AJGA events. In high school, McCauley was a three-time Washington 2A Evergreen League MVP and was the state runner-up in 2019 and 2021. She also contributed on the basketball court during all four years.
BYU swimmer represents Mexico in international event
FUKUOKA, Japan — Diego Camacho Salgado is representing his native home country of Mexico at the World Aquatics Championships July 23-30.
The junior backstroke specialist from Tijuana competed in three events for the Mexican Swimming Federation in Fukuoka.
Camacho Salgado opened the meet finishing 35th in the 100 backstroke preliminary with a time of 55.80. The 50 backstroke prelims saw Camacho Salgado finish 38th at 26.04. Camacho Salgado then finished the meet as the leadoff in the men’s 400 medley relay. Mexico finished 18th in the event with Camacho Salgado clocking 56.03 to start.
The Mexican Swimming Federation finished the meet in 42nd with a total of 823.8 points.
Camacho Salgado qualified to compete for Mexico at world’s after achieving three golds and two bronze medals at the Mexican National Swimming Selection April 4-9 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico.
Camacho Salgado’s collegiate offseason also included a productive performance at the 24th CAC Games June 24-29 in San Salvador, El Salvador. There, the BYU veteran set personal bests in the 50 freestyle (23.23) and 50 backstroke (25.68) on his way to two golds and two bronzes.
Camacho Salgado returns for the Cougars in 2023-24 as the program marks its debut season in the Big 12 Conference.