712 Digital Group - top

Stanley and Purdy named to Davey O’Brien Award watch list

Sports

July 18th, 2019 by admin

University of Iowa senior quarterback Nate Stanley and Iowa State sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy have been named to the 2019 Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, a group that includes 30 of the nation’s top quarterbacks.

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award and is presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate quarterback by the Davey O’Brien Foundation.

Stanley (6-foot-4, 243-pounds) passed for 2,852 yards and 26 touchdowns — the second-most in the Big Ten and 22nd-most in the country — last season. Stanley’s 52 career touchdowns rank fourth in program history and are the most by a Hawkeye over a two-year span. The Menomonie, Wisconsin, native also ranks ninth in career passing yards (5,351) and total offense (5,240).

Purdy took over play-calling duties in the Cyclones 5th game in 2018 and broke or tied season school records in completion percentage (66.4), passing efficiency (169.9) and 300-yard passing games (three). His 169.9 passing efficiency clip ranked sixth nationally and was the best by a FBS true freshman in NCAA history. Purdy, who accounted for 21 of ISU’s 35 touchdowns in the final nine games, passed for 2,250 yards and 16 touchdowns, the fifth-best total in school history. He was also second on the team in rushing yards (308) and rushing touchdowns (5) in 2018.

The award was established in 1977 and named after TCU quarterback Davey O’Brien, who led the Horned Frogs to an undefeated season in 1938 en route to their second National Championship. He became the first ever player to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray won last year’s award.

Sixteen semifinalists for the award will be named Nov. 13 and three finalists will be announced Nov. 25. The 2019 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live Dec. 12 on ESPN, during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.