FORT WORTH, Texas - University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan is one of three finalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, announced today by the Davey O'Brien Foundation. The award, given annually to the nation's best college quarterback, is the oldest and most prestigious for college quarterbacks.

Joining Brennan on the list are Notre Dame's Brady Quinn and Ohio State's Troy Smith. The winner will be announced on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. EST (2 p.m. Hawai'i time). The show will air live from the Atlantic Dance Hall on The Boardwalk at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Brennan currently leads the nation in passing efficiency (189.6), total offense (403.3), points responsible for (28.91), passing yards (4,155) and touchdown passes (48). The junior from Irvine, Calif., is also second in passing yards per game (377.73) and tied the NCAA record for most passing touchdowns in two seasons in last week's game against San Jose State. He now has 83 touchdown passes in two seasons and needs one more to surpass the mark set by Houston's David Klingler.

"I'm very happy for Colt that he is being recognized among the elite group of quarterbacks," Hawai'i head coach June Jones said. "Part of it is a result of playing on a winning team, but I can't imagine another quarterback has played better than Colt has this season."

Hawai`i, who is 9-2 on the season and heading to Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Dec. 24, leads the nation among the Division I programs in passing yard per game (434.9), total offense (544.73), scoring (49.18) and touchdown passes (52).

The Davey O'Brien Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the country for college quarterbacks. The award carries with it a $10,000 grant to the scholarship program of the university in which the winner is enrolled. Since 1977, the O'Brien Foundation has awarded more than $250,000 to the various winners' universities and more than $400,000 to deserving high school students.

The organization's original watch of 34 was trimmed to 18 semifinalists on Nov. 7. The O'Brien Selection Committee, made up of a nationwide panel of sportswriters, commentators and former O'Brien Award winners, will vote later this month to determine the winner who will be announced on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show slated for Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. HST. The show will air live from the Atlantic Dance Hall of The Boardwalk at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The winner will then be honored on Feb. 19, 2007, at the 30th annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, and with Paul Hornung, recipient of the 2006 Davey O'Brien Legends Award, and the O'Brien High School Scholarship Award winner.

For more information on the award, please visit http://www.daveyobrien.com.

-UH-