The Davey O’Brien Foundation has recently announced that quarterback Cade Klubnik has been selected as one of the contenders for the prestigious Davey O’Brien Award in 2023. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top quarterback, making it one of the highest honors in college football.
The watch list for this year was carefully compiled by a subset of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee. It takes into account the players' career performances as well as their expectations heading into the upcoming 2023 college football season. To be eligible for the watch list, all nominees must have previously started at least one game at an NCAA Division I institution.
Among the notable names on this year’s watch list is Caleb Williams from USC, who was a finalist for the 2022 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Additionally, 15 out of last year’s 20 semifinalists have returned to the list, including standout quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels (LSU), Frank Harris (UTSA), Sam Hartman (Notre Dame), and Drake Maye (North Carolina), among others.
The watch list also includes talented players like Carter Bradley (South Alabama), Chevan Cordeiro (San Jose State), Jalon Daniels (Kansas), and Quinn Ewers (Texas), just to name a few. It features quarterbacks from all 10 FBS conferences as well as independent football programs. The ACC, Big 12, and SEC lead the way with five preseason selections each.
Out of the 35 players on the watch list, there are 20 seniors, 10 juniors, and five sophomores. This diverse group of talented athletes will undoubtedly make the race for the Davey O’Brien Award an exciting one.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, established in 1977, is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. It recognizes the best college quarterback in the nation and has a rich history of honoring exceptional talent. This year's winner will be celebrated at the 47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner, which will take place on Monday, February 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, October 24th. It will include all active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, as well as players who have been honored as weekly Great 8 recipients during the first eight weeks of the season. The Midseason Watch List will then be narrowed down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023 on Tuesday, October 31st.
Similar to previous years, fan voting on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will play a significant role in determining the semifinalists, finalists, and ultimately the award winner. Voting will commence on October 31st.
The list of semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be announced on Tuesday, November 14th. Following that, the Foundation will reveal the three finalists on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, the winner of the 2023 Davey O’Brien Award will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 7th. It promises to be an exciting culmination of the season as the nation's best college quarterback is honored.
