Buckeye Trio Named to the Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List
8/26/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
The freshman group of wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., linebacker Cincere Johnson and cornerback Jay Timmons are listed on the 37-person watch list ahead of their first collegiate seasons.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Ohio State had three players named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Wednesday morning.
The freshman group of wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., linebacker Cincere Johnson and cornerback Jay Timmons are listed on the 37-person watch list ahead of their first collegiate seasons. This marks the second national award watch list for Henry Jr., who was also placed on the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List, last week. This is the first for both Johnson and Timmons.
Ohio State is one of just two teams in the country to have three or more players on the list who are entering their first year in college football.
Last season, quarterback Julian Sayin took home the Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Sayin led the nation in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), ranking second nationally in efficiency (177.5) while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns (fourth nationally) with only eight interceptions.
The trio of Henry Jr., Johnson and Timmons were a part of the 2026 recruiting class that was widely considered one of the top ranked in the country. Henry Jr. and Johnson were the consensus top ranked receiver and linebacker in the country, respectively, while Timmons was ranked as a five-star and the top corner in the country according to Rivals.com.
Alexander Freshman of the Year Process
The Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalists will be announced on November 4 with the finalists being named on December 2. The winner of the award will be announced on December 28 with the award presentation on the Maxwell Awards Gala in Atlanta, Ga. on March 13, 2027.
Ohio State Preseason Honors
The freshman group of wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., linebacker Cincere Johnson and cornerback Jay Timmons are listed on the 37-person watch list ahead of their first collegiate seasons. This marks the second national award watch list for Henry Jr., who was also placed on the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List, last week. This is the first for both Johnson and Timmons.
Ohio State is one of just two teams in the country to have three or more players on the list who are entering their first year in college football.
Last season, quarterback Julian Sayin took home the Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Sayin led the nation in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), ranking second nationally in efficiency (177.5) while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns (fourth nationally) with only eight interceptions.
The trio of Henry Jr., Johnson and Timmons were a part of the 2026 recruiting class that was widely considered one of the top ranked in the country. Henry Jr. and Johnson were the consensus top ranked receiver and linebacker in the country, respectively, while Timmons was ranked as a five-star and the top corner in the country according to Rivals.com.
Alexander Freshman of the Year Process
The Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalists will be announced on November 4 with the finalists being named on December 2. The winner of the award will be announced on December 28 with the award presentation on the Maxwell Awards Gala in Atlanta, Ga. on March 13, 2027.
Ohio State Preseason Honors
- Phil Steele:
- Six Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
- Athlon Sports:
- Seven Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.
- Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List:
- AFCA Good Works Nominees:
- Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000
- Ohio State football had 19 players selected to the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000. The list includes a representative from almost every position room at Ohio State including five defensive lineman, four offensive linemen, three safeties and three wide receivers.
- Big Ten Preseason Honors List:
- Maxwell Preseason Watch List:
- Mannelly Preseason Watch List:
- Outland Trophy Watch List:
- Nagurski Watch List:
- Mackey Award Watch List:
- Sporting News Preseason All-Americans:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was placed on the first time while offensive linemen Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld were listed on the second team.
- Rimington Trophy Watch List:
- Lou Groza Watch List:
- Hornung Award Watch List:
- On3 Preseason All-Americans:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was placed on the first time while offensive linemen Luke Montgomery was listed on the second team and Austin Siereveld was placed on the third team.
- Wuerffel Trophy Watch List:
- Lombardi Award Watch List:
- Thrope Award Watch List:
- ESPN Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin were both named to the first team ahead of the 2026 season.
- Walter Camp Watch List:
- Doak Walker Watch List:
- CBS Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery were both named to the first team ahead of the 2026 season.
- AP Preseason All-America
- Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was named a first team selection and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery was placed on the second team ahead of the 2026 season.
- Biletnikoff Watch List:
- Unitas Golden Arm Watch List:
- Senior Bowl 300
- Ohio State had 16 players selected to the Senior Bowl 300, the most of any school. Four different position rooms had three or more selections to the Senior Bowl 300.
- Polynesian Player of the Year:
- O'Brien Watch List:
- Bednarik Watch List:
- Manning Watch List:
Players Mentioned
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