Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was named a finalist for the 2016 Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best quarterback on Monday.
Louisville’s Lamar Jackson and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield were also named finalist for the prestigious award.
Watson, who won the Davey O’Brien Award last year, has completed 66.4 percent of his 420 passes for 3,279 yards and 28 touchdowns. Watson leads the ACC in passing yards and touchdowns as well as in passing yards per game at 298.1 yards per game.
Watson has guided No. 3 Clemson to 10 wins already this season and to an ACC Atlantic Division title. He is coming off a game in which he completed 23 of 33 passes for 202 yards, touchdown and no interceptions in a 35-13 win at Wake Forest which clinched the division title.
The Davey O’Brien Award will be presented at the Home Depot College Football Award Show on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in Atlanta. The show will air on ESPN.
The Home Depot College Football Awards show highlights the achievements of college football student-athletes in 2016. Twenty-four players were selected as finalists for the nine National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) awards given annually during the show.
The nominees will be featured during The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special on Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
NCFAA awards announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards:
| Chuck Bednarik Award
College Defensive Player of the Year
|
Jonathan Allen, Alabama (Sr.)
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M (So.) Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (Jr.) |
| Biletnikoff Award
Outstanding Receiver
|
Austin Carr, Northwestern (Jr.)
Zay Jones, East Carolina (Sr.) Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma (RS Sr.) |
| Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
Nation’s Outstanding Placekicker
|
Daniel Carlson, Auburn (Jr.)
Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State (Sr.) Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern (Sr.) |
| Ray Guy Award
College Punter of the Year
|
Michael Dickson, Texas (So.)
Cameron Johnston, Ohio State, (GS) Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah, (So.) |
| Maxwell Award
College Player of the Year
|
Lamar Jackson, Louisville (So.)
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (RS Jr.) Jabrill Peppers, Michigan (Jr.) |
| Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award
Nation’s Best Quarterback
|
Lamar Jackson, Louisville (So.)
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (RS Jr.) |
| Outland Trophy
Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman |
Pat Elflein, Ohio State (Sr.)
Cody O’Connell, Washington State (RS Jr.) Cam Robinson, Alabama |
| Jim Thorpe Award
Nation’s Best Defensive Back |
Adoree’ Jackson, USC (Jr.)
Jourdan Lewis, Michigan (Sr.) Tre’Davious White, LSU (Sr.) |
| Doak Walker Award
Nation’s Premier Running Back |
Dalvin Cook, Florida State (Jr.)
D’Onta Foreman, Texas (Jr.) Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State (Sr.) |
Other awards recognized during The Home Depot College Football Awards:
| The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award
|
Winner be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 8
|
| NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award | Winner to be announced on
Wednesday, Nov. 30
|
| Disney Spirit Award Most Inspirational
|
James Conner, Pittsburgh (RS Jr.) |
| William V. Campbell Trophy
Academic Success |
The 12 finalists for the Campbell Trophy were announced on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
|
| The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team | Team captain will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 23
|
| Walter Camp All-America Team | Team to be announced
on Thursday, Dec. 8
|
Awards recognized during The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Special at 6 p.m. on ESPNU:
| John Mackey Award
Outstanding Tight End
|
Jake Butt, Michigan (Sr.)
O.J. Howard, Alabama (Sr.) Jordan Leggett, Clemson (Sr.) |
| Rimington Award
Outstanding Center
|
Finalists to be announced on
Monday, Dec. 5; Winner announced live on the Red Carpet |
| Wuerffel Trophy
Community Service
|
Garrett Adcock, New Mexico (RS Sr.)
Trevor Knight, Texas A&M (Sr.) Christian McCaffrey, Stanford (Jr.) |
–Staff Reports