Talyn Taylor named to 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List

Georgia football wide receiver Talyn Taylor has been named to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List, it was announced Wednesday.

🏆 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Watch List Revealed! 🏆

The Maxwell Football Club has officially released the preseason watch list for the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award, honoring the top freshman standout in college football. 

From… pic.twitter.com/WgH4KkjE6H

— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) August 26, 2026

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL, is presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year.

Past Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award winners include Trevor Lawrence (2018, Clemson), Kenneth Gainwell (2019, Memphis), Will Anderson Jr. (2020, Alabama), Brock Bowers (2021, Georgia), Drake Maye (2022, North Carolina), Caleb Downs (2023, Alabama), Colin Simmons (2024, Texas), and Julian Sayin (2025, Ohio State).

Finalists for the 9th annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be announced in December. The formal presentation of the award will be held on Saturday March 13, 2027, and hosted by the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Ga.

Talyn Taylor, who hails from Geneva, Ill., appeared in six games last season as a reserve wide receiver. He caught two passes for 28 yards.

The third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs are scheduled to open the 2026 season on Saturday, September 5 against the Tennessee State Tigers at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. The game will kickoff at 3:00pm ET and will be a streaming-only event on SEC Network+ (Buy Tickets).

UGA Football Schedule

Talyn Taylor has been named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Preseason Watchlist! @MaxwellFootball pic.twitter.com/0UXU6g5Tfv

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) August 26, 2026

@taylor_talyn has officially been named to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshmen Player of the Year Watch List! 🏆🏈

📍School: @GeorgiaFootball
🏈 Position: WR
🎓 Class: Redshirt Freshman pic.twitter.com/IjsHeaeTMn

— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) August 26, 2026