COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland freshman linebacker Jaishawn Barham has been selected as one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, it was announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Thursday afternoon.

The award, now in its fifth year, recognizes the most outstanding freshman player in college football.

Other semifinalists include Terrion Arnold (Alabama), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Richard Reese (Baylor), Malaki Starks (Georgia), Gabe Jacas (Illinois), Deone Walker (Kentucky), Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU), Will Campbell (LSU), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), Abdul Carter (Penn State), Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) and Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas).

Barham, who has started all seven games he's played as a true freshman in 2022, is currently tied for the team lead in sacks (3) and ranks second on the squad with 4.5 tackles for loss. He is currently the Power Five's highest-graded true freshman defender via Pro Football Focus (76.9). The former four-star recruit has forced an incompletion on 18.2% of his targets this season, tied for the sixth-highest rate among Power Five linebackers. His three sacks are tied for the eighth-most for Power Five linebackers.

A District Heights, Maryland native, Barham is averaging 5.0 tackles per game, the most by any freshman in the Big Ten and the seventh most by any freshman in the FBS. The linebacker was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on October 10 after recording two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against Purdue. Barham also posted a season-high 12 tackles in a win over SMU and led the Terps with eight tackles in a narrow loss at Michigan.

Past winners of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award include Trevor Lawrence (Clemson, 2018), Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis, 2019), Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama, 2020) and Brock Bowers (Georgia, 2021).

Finalists for the award will be unveiled on December 6 with the winner being announced on December 29. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in March of 2023.