Trinidad Chambliss and Jayden Woods Earn Maxwell Club Weekly Honors

Chambliss powered Ole Miss past LSU with 363 passing yards, while Woods recorded 2.5 sacks in Florida’s SEC victory over Auburn.

Two of the SEC’s biggest Week 3 performers have earned national recognition from the Maxwell Football Club.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week after accounting for three touchdowns in the Rebels’ 32–24 victory over LSU. Florida outside linebacker Jayden Woods received the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week honor following a disruptive performance in the Gators’ 44–39 win at Auburn.

The Maxwell Award recognizes outstanding overall performance, while the Bednarik honor is reserved for defensive excellence.

Chambliss Drives Ole Miss Past LSU

Chambliss completed 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards against LSU, delivering a high-volume performance in one of the SEC’s most anticipated early-season matchups.

The Ole Miss quarterback accounted for three total touchdowns, including one on the ground. He carried the ball nine times and produced a 15-yard run despite finishing with only two net rushing yards after sacks were factored into the total.

Chambliss’ ability to repeatedly move the football through the air allowed Ole Miss to sustain drives and keep pressure on LSU’s defense. He completed nearly 69% of his attempts while handling 57 combined passes and rushing attempts.

The Maxwell Football Club credited Chambliss with an 89.7 quarterback rating in the victory.

More importantly, the performance helped Ole Miss remain undefeated and strengthened the Rebels’ early College Football Playoff résumé.

The win carried additional significance because LSU coach Lane Kiffin was facing Ole Miss after previously leading the Rebels. Chambliss and his teammates delivered the result their program needed in an emotionally charged matchup.

A Quarterback Worth Watching

Chambliss entered the season on the Maxwell Award watch list after emerging as one of the most compelling stories in college football.

Before reaching the SEC, he played at Division II powerhouse Ferris State. His move to Ole Miss allowed him to prove that his production could translate against some of the nation’s strongest defenses.

His performance against LSU offered more evidence that it could.

Chambliss demonstrated the accuracy and composure necessary to control a major conference game. Rather than relying on a handful of explosive plays, he consistently completed passes and kept the Rebels’ offense moving.

With Ole Miss pursuing a conference championship and playoff position, Chambliss’ continued development will be central to the program’s ceiling.

Woods Breaks Out Against Auburn

Woods earned the Bednarik weekly honor after producing career highs in sacks and tackles for loss during Florida’s road victory over Auburn.

The sophomore finished with six tackles, including five solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also recorded one quarterback hurry.

According to Pro Football Focus data cited by the Maxwell Football Club, Woods generated more pressures than any other player on Florida’s defense.

His 2.5 sacks tied defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo for the team lead against Auburn. Together, the two defenders created consistent problems for the Tigers’ protection and helped Florida finish with seven sacks.

Woods repeatedly disrupted plays before they could develop. His 3.5 tackles for loss cost Auburn nine yards, while his sacks accounted for eight yards in losses.

Florida needed that pressure in a game that produced 83 combined points and remained competitive into the fourth quarter.

Woods Establishing Himself as a Defensive Leader

Through Florida’s first three games, Woods has recorded 15 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks.

He has started every game and ranks among the Gators’ leading defenders in several categories. His Auburn performance nearly matched his sack total from his entire freshman season, when he recorded 3.5.

Woods earned Freshman All-SEC recognition in 2025 after appearing in all 12 games and making two starts. He finished that season with 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries.

His early 2026 production suggests he is making the expected second-year leap.

The official Florida announcement described the Auburn performance as the most productive game of his young college career.

About the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards

The Maxwell Football Club has recognized excellence in football since its founding in 1935.

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the country’s top college football player. Its weekly honor can recognize an outstanding performance on offense, defense, or special teams.

The Chuck Bednarik Award, named after the former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagles star, recognizes the nation’s top defensive player. Bednarik was a standout linebacker and center and is a member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Players do not need to appear on either award’s preseason watch list to earn weekly recognition.

Both awards are members of the National College Football Awards Association, which includes 24 of the sport’s most prestigious honors.

For Chambliss and Woods, the weekly awards recognize two very different ways to control an SEC game: one quarterback moving his offense downfield and one pass rusher making sure the opposing offense could never feel comfortable.