Nebraska I-back Rex Burkhead received preseason recognition honor on Monday, as the senior was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List on Monday.

Burkhead is one of 65 players on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, which has been presented to the nation's outstanding football player since 1937. Burkhead earned All-Big Ten honors, rushing for 1,357 yards and accounting for 17 touchdowns in 2011. He totaled seven 100-yard rushing efforts as a junior while ranking third in the Big Ten with 104.4 rushing yards per game.

Burkhead, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior from Plano Texas, had a Nebraska record 38 rushing attempts for 160 yards in the regular season finale victory over Iowa. He also racked up 35 carries in a win over Michigan State and had a career-high 170 rushing yards at Wyoming. Burkhead's 284 carries in 2011 were just two shy of the season record of 286 by Lawrence Phillips in 1994. Burkhead also showed his receiving ability with 21 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

A three-year performer for the Huskers, he enters his senior year ranked 12th on Nebraska's career rushing chart with 2,654 yards and could make a strong push to finish in the top five with a strong 2012 campaign.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced October 29, and the three finalists for each award will be unveiled November 19. The winners of the 2011 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show held on December 6.

Courtesy: Nebraska Media Relations