Davey O’Brien Award’s 35-Player QB Class of 2023 Revealed

FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 31, 2023) – The Davey O’Brien Foundation has announced the 35 quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023. Each member of the group is now an official candidate to win the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

This year’s class includes: Drew Allar (Penn State), Carson Beck (Georgia), Davis Brin (Georgia Southern), Brady Cook (Missouri), Jayden Daniels (LSU), JT Daniels (Rice), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Dequan Finn (Toledo), Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma), Darren Grainger (Georgia State), Frank Harris (UTSA), Sam Hartman (Notre Dame), Mikey Keene (Fresno State), Zac Larrier (Air Force), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Jordan McCloud (James Madison), Kyle McCord (Ohio State), Graham Mertz (Florida), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Bo Nix (Oregon), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), Michael Pratt (Tulane), Austin Reed (Western Kentucky), Kaidon Salter (Liberty), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Preston Stone (SMU), Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland), Jordan Travis (Florida State), DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State), Tyler Van Dyke (Miami), Cameron Ward (Washington State) and Caleb Williams (USC).

The 35 quarterbacks have helped lead their respective teams to a combined record of 226-56 (.801), and all of the teams possess a record of .500 or better through week nine. All 10 FBS conferences as well as one football independent are represented on the list. The Pac-12 and SEC lead the way with six honorees apiece. 

The next step in the process will be to select the award’s 16 semifinalists from the 35 quarterbacks. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote.

For the fourth straight year, the Fan Vote will take place on the award’s three social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X)—and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.

To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O’Brien Award post highlighting their quarterback. The first round is open now until Friday, Nov. 10 at noon (CT). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, Nov. 28, while the winner will be announced live on Friday, Dec. 8, on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.

In 1938, O’Brien, who was a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Timeline

Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023 Announced (Tuesday, Oct. 31) 

Semifinalist Round Fan Vote Open (Tuesday, Oct. 31-Friday, Nov. 10) 

Semifinalists Announced (Tuesday, Nov. 14)

Finalist Round Fan Vote Open (Tuesday, Nov. 14-Friday, Nov. 24)

Finalists Announced (Tuesday, Nov. 28) 

Winner Round Fan Vote Open (Tuesday, Nov. 28-Friday, Dec. 1)

Winner Announced on Home Depot College Football Awards (Friday, Dec. 8)

47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner (Monday, Feb. 19, 2024)

Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023

Drew Allar, Penn State, So., 6-5, 242, Medina, Ohio

Carson Beck, Georgia, Jr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.

Davis Brin, Georgia Southern, Sr., 6-2, 210, Boerne, Texas

Brady Cook, Missouri, Jr., 6-2, 205, St. Louis, Mo.

Jayden Daniels, LSU, Sr., 6-4, 210, San Bernardino, Calif.

JT Daniels, Rice, Sr., 6-2, 237, Irvine, Calif.

Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, Jr., 6-2, 220, Kaysville, Utah

Quinn Ewers, Texas, So., 6-2, 195, Southlake, Texas

Dequan Finn, Toledo, Jr., 6-2, 205, Detroit, Mich.

Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma, Sr., 5-11, 204, Mililani, Hawaii

Darren Grainger, Georgia State, Sr., 6-4, 225, Conway, S.C.

Frank Harris, UTSA, Sr., 6-0, 205, Schertz, Texas

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-1, 212, Charlotte, N.C.

Mikey Keene, Fresno State, So., 5-11, 198, Chandler, Ariz.

Zac Larrier, Air Force, Sr., 6-0, 195, Youngstown, Ohio

Drake Maye, North Carolina, So., 6-4, 230, Huntersville, N.C.

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 220, Indian Trail, N.C.

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan, Jr., 6-3, 202, La Grange Park, Ill.

Jordan McCloud, James Madison, Sr., 6-0, 199, Tampa, Fla.

Kyle McCord, Ohio State, Jr., 6-3, 215, Mt. Laurel, N.J.

Graham Mertz, Florida, Jr., 6-3, 215, Overland Park, Kan.

Jalen Milroe, Alabama, So., 6-2, 220, Katy, Texas

Bo Nix, Oregon, Sr., 6-3, 214, Pinson, Ala.

Michael Penix Jr., Washington, Sr., 6-3, 213, Tampa, Fla.

Michael Pratt, Tulane, Jr., 6-3, 220, Boca Raton, Fla.

Austin Reed, Western Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 230, St. Augustine Beach, Fla.

Kaidon Salter, Liberty, So., 6-1, 200, Cedar Hill, Texas

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Jr., 6-2, 215, Dallas, Texas

Preston Stone, SMU, So., 6-1, 219, Dallas, Texas

Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland, Sr., 5-11, 208, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Jordan Travis, Florida State, Sr., 6-1, 212, West Palm Beach, Fla.

DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State, Jr., 6-4, 252, Inland Empire, Calif.

Tyler Van Dyke, Miami, Jr., 6-4, 230, Glastonbury, Conn.

Cameron Ward, Washington State, Jr., 6-2, 223, West Columbia, Texas

Caleb Williams, USC, Jr., 6-1, 220, Washington, D.C.