Football | August 28, 2024
GO ANGELES—USC offensive lineman Elijah Paige was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list today (August 28). The award is given to the most outstanding freshman player (true freshman or redshirt freshman) in college football.
Paige, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2023 after graduating from high school a semester early, started 5 games on the offensive line as a true freshman in 2023 (San Jose State, Nevada, Stanford, UCLA and in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville) and was in the starting lineup once as left tackle (Holiday Bowl).
As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Paige is expected to have a standout season with a larger role on the Trojans’ offensive line.
The award will be presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards along with several other top honors in college and professional football. The event will take place on March 14, 2025, and will be hosted by the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been given to the college freshman of the year since 2018 and is named after Shaun Alexander, a former Alabama star and 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. Previous winners include Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) in 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis) in 2019, Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) in 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) in 2021, Drake Maye (North Carolina) in 2022 and Caleb Downs (Alabama) in 2023.
