CU QB Montez is on Maxwell watch list

There’s no question entering this season regarding who the best college quarterback in Colorado is. When CU and Colorado State take the field for the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Aug. 31, that recognition — at least for now — belongs to the Buffs’ Steven Montez.

Montez, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior, bolstered his résumé Monday morning when he was named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, given annually to college football’s player of the year.

While his numbers weren’t quite as good as anticipated in 2017 in his first full year as a starter following a dazzling freshman season as Sefo Liufau’s backup, Montez still completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 2,975 yards while rushing for 338 yards and three scores. However, he threw only 18 touchdowns with nine interceptions and was sacked 35 times. Only seven NCAA FBS teams allowed more sacks last season than CU (39).

Montez was named all-Pac 12 honorable mention last season.

In June, he attended the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana and was able to learn firsthand from brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, telling CUBuffs.com “it was a once-ina-lifetime experience.”

Montez is one of 12 players from the Pac-12 on the Maxwell Award watch list. The preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, given to the best defensive player in college football, was also announced Monday and included Wyoming’s Carl Granderson and safety Andrew Wingard, a graduate of Ralston Valley High School.