Indiana may not have the national spotlight that some powerhouse programs enjoy, but Elijah Sarratt is starting to change that. His name on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list is turning heads and making people pay attention.
Sarratt is coming off a breakout season and now finds himself in select company — especially for a wide receiver.
The Maxwell Award, given each year to college football’s most outstanding player, recognizes more than just stats. It honors leadership, consistency, and overall impact. But it’s long been a quarterback-dominated honor.
Since 1991, only one receiver — Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020 — has won it.
That makes Sarratt’s appearance on the preseason watch list all the more notable. It’s a clear sign of how much he means to Indiana heading into the fall.
Under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers surprised a lot of people with a run to the College Football Playoff. Elijah Sarratt was a big reason why, quickly establishing himself as one of the team’s go-to receivers.
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He ended the season with 53 receptions, 957 yards, and eight touchdowns — solid by any measure — but what really stood out were the clutch plays he delivered when the team needed them most. Averaging more than 18 yards per catch, Sarratt proved to be a dependable weapon down the stretch.
More than just the numbers, Sarratt gave Indiana a true outside threat — a player who could stretch the field, draw defenders, and punish defenses downfield. With another year in Cignetti’s system, he’s expected to remain a central piece of the offense as the Hoosiers try to build on last season’s momentum.
Indiana is also one of just 16 programs with multiple players named to the Maxwell watch list — a testament to just how far this team has come.
Now, with expectations sky-high in Bloomington, Sarratt returns as both a leader and a difference-maker. If he builds on last year’s momentum, he won’t just stay on the list — he could very well finish the season in the thick of the conversation.