Release
FORT WORTH – Four juniors and four seniors comprise the Davey O’Brien’s Foundation “Great 8” quarterbacks for week eight of the college football season, according to the list revealed Monday.
The eight honorees, as determined by voting from the award’s selection subcommittee, are: Shane Buechele of SMU, LSU’s Joe Burrow, Sean Clifford of Penn State, Texas’ Sam Ehlinger, Anthony Gordon of Washington State, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma and Memphis’ Brady White. The winner of the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week Award will be announced Tuesday.
In 1938, O’Brien, who wore No. 8 as 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.
O’Brien was drafted fourth overall in the 1939 NFL Draft and earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season after setting a National Football League record for season passing yardage. The NFL’s highest-paid player retired after the 1940 season to become an FBI agent.
The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981. The Davey O’Brien Fan Vote, now in its 13th year, gives fans a chance to play a role in determining the award winner by voting daily at VoteOBrien.org. Fan voting is currently open.
Since 1977, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit DaveyOBrien.org.
Week 8 “Great 8” Performances:
Brady White, Memphis, 6-3, 215, Jr., Newhall, Calif.
· Threw five touchdown passes and was good on 21 of 29 attempts for 358 yards with no interceptions in a 47-17 win over Tulane.
Shane Buechele, SMU, Jr., 6-1, 207, Arlington, Texas
· Completed 30 of 53 attempts for a career-best 457 yards and school-record six touchdown passes in a 45-21 win over Temple.
Joe Burrow, LSU, Sr., 6-4, 216, Athens, Ohio
· Threw four touchdowns to establish a new LSU single-season passing TD mark (29), and was 25-for-32 passing for 327 yards, in a 36-13 victory at Mississippi State.
Sean Clifford, Penn State, Jr., 6-2, 216, Cincinnati, Ohio
· Led unbeaten Penn State past No. 16 Michigan, 28-21, by throwing for three touchdowns and running for a score.
Sam Ehlinger, Texas, Jr., 6-3, 230, Austin, Texas
· Had 490 total yards (399 passing, 91 rushing), passed for four touchdowns, and directed the Longhorns to a last-second, game-winning field goal in a 50-48 victory over Kansas.
Anthony Gordon, Washington State, Sr., 6-3, 210, Pacifica, Calif.
· Connected on 35 of 51 attempts for 369 yards and four scores in a 41-10 victory over Pac-12 foe Colorado.
Justin Herbert, Oregon, Sr., 6-6, 237, Eugene, Ore.
· Led the Ducks to a 35-31 comeback win at No. 25 Washington by completing 24 of 38 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns against no interceptions.
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma, Sr., 6-2, 218, Houston, Texas
· Was 16-for-17 passing and amassed 391 total yards (316 passing, 75 rushing) and five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in a 52-14 triumph over West Virginia.