Sam Darnold Named O'Brien Award Semifinalist
November 10, 2016 | Football
USC redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold has been named one of 18 semifinalists for the 2016 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.
Darnold, who took over as USC's starter in the fourth game of 2016, has completed 146-of-215 passes (67.9%) for 1,874 yards with 20 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. He also has run for 172 yards on 41 carries with 2 TDs. His 168.1 passing efficiency rating in 2016 is above Cody Kessler's USC season mark of 167.1 set in 2014. He is the only USC quarterback in history to have back-to-back games with 5 TDs in each (Arizona and California in 2016). He currently is seventh nationally in passing efficiency (168.1, second in Pac-12), 10th in completion percentage (.679, second in Pac-12) and 19th in passing TDs (20, fourth in Pac-12). He is fourth in the nation in ESPN's Total Quarterback Rating (87.3). In his 6 starts, he has thrown 18 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. Among freshmen quarterbacks, he is first nationally in passing efficiency (168.1), completion percentage (.679), passing yards per attempt (8.7) and TD passes (20). His 20 TDs in 2016 is a USC freshman season record. His 172 rushing yards in 2016 are the most in a season by a USC quarterback since Reggie Perry's 254 in 1991.
Joining Darnold as semifinalists are J.T. Barrett (Ohio State), Jake Browning (Washington), Jerod Evans (Virginia Tech), Luke Falk (Washington State), Jalen Hurts (Alabama), Chad Kelly (Mississippi), Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Trevor Knight (Texas A&M), Patrick Mahomes II (Texas Tech), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State), Wilton Speight (Michigan), Zach Terrell (Western Michigan), Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina), Greg Ward Jr. (Houston), Deshaun Watson (Clemson) and Davis Webb (California).
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the best college quarterback, and is the nation's oldest national quarterback award.
The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote counts as five percent during each round of the voting process, and is combined with the results from the foundation's national selection committee, which is comprised of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners.
After clearing the first round totals, the fan vote at VoteOBrien.org will reopen today (Nov. 10) and remain open until noon (CT) on Sunday, Nov. 22, for the second round of balloting. Fans are invited to cast their vote for the nation's best college quarterback as often as once daily per email address.
In conjunction with ESPN, the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Selection Committee will release the names of the three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The 2016 Davey O'Brien winner will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards Thursday, Dec. 8. The 40th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner will be held Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
