(Here’s the press release announcing the semifinalists for the 2011 Davey O’Brien Award, given annually to the nation’s top quarterback. Last year’s winner was Auburn’s Cam Newton. Perhaps the most notable name not on the list? West Virginia’s Geno Smith. Anyway, here’s the release.)
The Davey O’Brien Foundation announced today the selection of 16 semifinalists for the 2011 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O’Brien).
Narrowed down from all 120 quarterbacks from NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools, semifinalists were selected by The O’Brien National Selection Committee, with the Fan Vote accounting for five percent of the total vote. The committee was asked to consider the following criteria: quarterback skills, academics, character, leadership and sportsmanship.
The 2011 O’Brien Semifinalists represent schools from the following conferences: Big 12 (5), Pac-12 (4), Big Ten (3), ACC (1), Conference USA (1), MWC (1) and SEC (1).
The list features returning finalists Andrew Luck (Sr., Stanford) and Kellen Moore (Sr., Boise State) as well as 2009 O’Brien Finalist Case Keenum (Sr., Houston). Returning semifinalists include: Matt Barkley (Jr., USC), Kirk Cousins (Sr., Michigan State), Robert Griffin III (Jr., Baylor), Landry Jones (Jr., Oklahoma), Denard Robinson (Jr., Michigan) and Darron Thomas (Jr., Oregon).
