National Quarterback Award
Davey O’Brien Award Winners
Originally, the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy was presented annually to the most outstanding player in the Southwestern states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Four years later, the award was expanded nationally in scope and limited to quarterback, the primary position of our namesake. The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
The Davey O’Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. The award has been given to many of the most prominent names in college football over the last 40 years, many of whom have gone on to illustrious NFL careers.
| Year | Recipient | University | Classification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | JAYDEN DANIELS | LSU | SR. |  |
| 2022 | MAX DUGGAN | TCU | SR. |  |
| 2021 | BRYCE YOUNG | ALABAMA | SO. |  |
| 2020 | MAC JONES | ALABAMA | JR. |  |
| 2019 | JOE BURROW | LSU | SR. |  |
| 2018 | KYLER MURRAY | OKLAHOMA | JR. |  |
| 2017 | BAKER MAYFIELD | OKLAHOMA | SR. |  |
| 2016 | DESHAUN WATSON | CLEMSON | JR. |  |
| 2015 | DESHAUN WATSON | CLEMSON | SO. | |
| 2014 | MARCUS MARIOTA | OREGON | JR. |  |
| 2013 | JAMEIS WINSTON | FLORIDA STATE | FR. |  |
| 2012 | JOHNNY MANZIEL | TEXAS A&M | FR. |  |
| 2011 | ROBERT GRIFFIN III | BAYLOR | JR. |  |
| 2010 | CAM NEWTON | AUBURN | JR. |  |
| 2009 | COLT MCCOY | TEXAS | SR. |  |
| 2008 | SAM BRADFORD | OKLAHOMA | SO. |  |
| 2007 | TIM TEBOW | FLORIDA | SO. |  |
| 2006 | TROY SMITH | OHIO STATE | SR. |  |
| 2005 | VINCE YOUNG | TEXAS | JR. |  |
| 2004 | JASON WHITE | OKLAHOMA | SR. |  |
| 2003 | JASON WHITE | OKLAHOMA | JR. | |
| 2002 | BRAD BANKS | IOWA | SR. |  |
| 2001 | ERIC CROUCH | NEBRASKA | SR. |  |
| 2000 | CHRIS WEINKE | FLORIDA STATE | SR. |  |
| 1999 | JOE HAMILTON | GEORGIA TECH | SR. |  |
| 1998 | MICHAEL BISHOP | KANSAS STATE | SO. |  |
| 1997 | PEYTON MANNING | TENNESSEE | SR. |  |
| 1996 | DANNY WUERFFEL | FLORIDA | SR. |  |
| 1995 | DANNY WUERFFEL | FLORIDA | JR. | |
| 1994 | KERRY COLLINS | PENN STATE | SR. |  |
| 1993 | CHARLIE WARD | FLORIDA STATE | SR. |  |
| 1992 | GINO TORRETTA | MIAMI | SR. |  |
| 1991 | TY DETMER | BYU | SR. |  |
| 1990 | TY DETMER | BYU | JR. | |
| 1989 | ANDRE WARE | HOUSTON | JR. |  |
| 1988 | TROY AIKMAN | UCLA | SR. |  |
| 1987 | DON MCPHERSON | SYRACUSE | SR. |  |
| 1986 | VINNY TESTAVERDE | MIAMI | SR. |  |
| 1985 | CHUCK LONG | IOWA | SR. |  |
| 1984 | DOUG FLUTIE | BOSTON COLLEGE | SR. |  |
| 1983 | STEVE YOUNG | BYU | SR. |  |
| 1982 | TODD BLACKLEDGE | PENN STATE | JR. |  |
| 1981 | JIM MCMAHON | BYU | SR. |  |
| 1980 | MIKE SINGLETARY | BAYLOR | SR. |  |
| 1979 | MIKE SINGLETARY | BAYLOR | JR. | |
| 1978 | BILLY SIMS | OKLAHOMA | JR. |  |
| 1977 | EARL CAMPBELL | TEXAS | SR. |  |