Seven ACC Quarterbacks Land on Davey O'Brien Award Preseason Watch List: ACC Daily

The Davey O'Brien Foundation released the Watch List for the award on Thursday which featured 36 players.

Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) throws an interception to Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Tony Rojas (not pictured) during the first half at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

College football awards continued to release their preseason watch lists this week. 

One of the latest awards to announce was the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award which was revealed by the Davey O’Brien Foundation on Thursday.

In total, 36 quarterbacks in college football landed on the list which included seven in the ACC. 

The conference players include Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Duke’s Darian Mensah, Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, Louisville’s Miller Moss, Miami’s Carson Beck, SMU’s Kevin Jennings, and Virginia’s Chandler Morris. 

More From The ACC: Where Do ACC Players Rank in ESPN's 40 Most Important Players in College Football in 2025?

The Davey O’Brien Award is given out annually to the best quarterback in college football. In 2024, Miami’s Cam Ward, who went on to be the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, earned the honor. 

The midseason watch list will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 21 while the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025 will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 28. 

The foundation will also announce the semifinalists on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and the three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 25. 

The recipient of the award will be unveiled during The Home Depot College Football Awards live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12. 

Below is the full list of the Watch List. 

2025 Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List

Drew Allar, Penn State, Sr., 6-5, 235, Medina, Ohio

Luke Altmyer, Illinois, Sr., 6-2, 205, Starkville, Miss.

Alonza Barnett III, JMU, Jr., 6-0, 217, Whitsett, N.C.

Rocco Becht, Iowa State, Jr., 6-1, 210, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Carson Beck, Miami, Sr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.

Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss, Sr., 6-2, 230, Frisco, Texas

Devon Dampier, Utah, Jr., 5-11, 204, Phoenix, Ariz.

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State, Jr., 6-2, 200, Aledo, Texas

Tucker Gleason, Toledo, Sr., 6-3, 245, Tampa, Fla.

Taylen Green, Arkansas, Sr., 6-6, 235, Lewisville, Texas

Josh Hoover, TCU, Jr., 6-2, 200, Heath, Texas

Blake Horvath, Navy, Sr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio

Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, So., 6-6, 215, Long Beach, Calif.

Keyone Jenkins, FIU, Jr., 6-0, 190, Opa-Locka, Fla.

Kevin Jennings, SMU, Jr., 6-0, 192, Oak Cliff, Texas

Avery Johnson, Kansas State, Jr., 6-2, 192, Wichita, Kan.

Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Sr., 6-3, 215, Longview, Texas

Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Sr., 6-2, 205, Austin, Texas

DJ Lagway, Florida, So., 6-3, 247, Willis, Texas

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, So., 6-2, 205, West Linn, Ore.

Maddux Madsen, Boise State, Jr., 5-10, 207, Lehi, Utah

Arch Manning, Texas, So., 6-4, 219, New Orleans, La.

John Mateer, Oklahoma, Jr., 6-1, 224, Little Elm, Texas

Owen McCown, UTSA, Jr., 6-1, 190, Rusk, Texas

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, Jr., 6-5, 225, Miami, Fla.

Darian Mensah, Duke, So., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Chandler Morris, Virginia, Sr., 6-0, 192, Highland Park, Texas

Behren Morton, Texas Tech, Sr., 6-2, 210, Eastland, Texas

Miller Moss, Louisville, Sr., 6-2, 210, Los Angeles, Calif.

Maalik Murphy, Oregon State, Jr., 6-5, 234, Inglewood, Calif.

Parker Navarro, Ohio, Sr., 6-0, 205, Tempe, Ariz.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Sr., 6-1, 205, Lake Charles, La.

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.

Sawyer Robertson, Baylor, Sr., 6-4, 220, Lubbock, Texas

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, So., 6-3, 240, Florence, S.C.

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati, Jr., 6-3, 235, Denton, Texas