Oregon senior Royce Freeman is one of 18 finalists for the Maxwell Award as college football's national player of the year.

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon senior running back Royce Freeman is one of 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award as college football's player of the year, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

Freeman, a senior from Imperial, Calif., has rushed for 1,096 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 carries this season. He ran for 139 yards in Oregon's victory Saturday over Utah, giving him 1,000 yards in three different seasons with the Ducks, tying LaMichael James for the UO career record.

The Maxwell Award has been bestowed to college football's player of the year, regardless of positon, for 80 years. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota won it following the 2014 season.

Among the other semifinalists are Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate and Stanford running back Bryce Love.

The Maxwell Award is voted on by Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media. Voting among the semifinalists begins Tuesday, and three finalists will be announced Nov. 20.

Freeman is currently averaging 121.8 rushing yards per game, ranking 11th in the FBS. With 5,242 yards for his career, he ranks second in Pac-12 history. This season he has set UO career records for not only rushing yardage but all-purpose yards (5,897), total touchdowns (58), rushing touchdowns (54) and 100-yard rushing games (28).