HONOLULU - University of Hawai`i quarterback was selected today to the watch list for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback.
Brennan (6-3, 196), who is also on the preseason "watch list" for the Manning Award, Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year, led the nation in touchdown passes (35), passing yards (4,301), passing average (358.4), total offense (371.3), and points responsible for (19.17) in his first season at Hawai`i. The junior completed 350-of-515 pass attempts for 4,301 yards, and 35 touchdowns, and broke nine school records in 2005. Brennan, a native of Irvine, Calif., finished ninth in the nation in passing efficiency (155.5).
Other prominent quarterbacks on the list include: Jerry Babb, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., Sun Belt; Jeff Ballard, TCU, Sr., MWC; John Beck, BYU, Sr., MWC; John David Booty, USC, Jr., PAC-10; Colt Brennan, Hawai`i , Jr., WAC; Alex Brink, Washington State, Jr., PAC-10; Brian Brohm, Louisville, Jr., Big East; Shaun Carney, Air Force, Jr., MWC; Brandon Cox, Auburn, Jr., SEC; Trent Edwards, Stanford, Sr., PAC-10; Luke Getsy, Akron, Sr., MAC; Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, So., Big 12; Omar Haugabook, Troy, Jr., Sun Belt; Phil Horvath, Northern Illinois, Sr., MAC; Brian Johnson, Utah , Jr., MWC; Kevin Kolb, Houston, Sr., C-USA; Chris Leak, Florida, Sr., SEC; Clint Marks, MTSU, Sr., Sun Belt; Bret Meyer, Iowa State, Jr., Big 12; Josh Padrick, FIU, Sr., Sun Belt; Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh, Sr., Big East; Jordan Palmer, UTEP, Sr., C-USA; Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, Sr., Ind.; Jeff Rowe, Nevada, Sr., WAC; JaMarcus Russell, LSU, Jr., SEC; Paul Smith, Tulsa, Jr., C-USA; Troy Smith, Ohio State, Sr., Big Ten; Drew Stanton, Michigan State, Sr., Big Ten; Drew Tate, Iowa, Sr., Big Ten; Zac Taylor, Nebraska, Sr., Big 12; Drew Weatherford, Florida State, So., ACC; Pat White, West Virginia, So., Big East; Kyle Wright, Miami, Jr., ACC; Jared Zabransky, Boise State, Sr., WAC.
Celebrating 30 years, the O'Brien Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the country for college quarterbacks and is named in honor of the late Davey O'Brien. O'Brien led the TCU Horned Frogs to the 1938 national championship and was the first player to win the Heisman, Walter Camp and Maxwell awards in one season.
Semifinalists will be announced in early November as voted on by the O'Brien Selection Committee, made up of a nationwide panel of sportswriters, commentators and former O'Brien Award winners. The committee will then narrow the field to three finalists before announcing a winner on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show scheduled for Dec. 7, 2006, at 7 p.m. EST. 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.
Last year's winner was Vince Young from The University of Texas who led the Longhorns to their first Big 12 Championship since 1996 and their fourth National Championship. With the national title down to a final play, Young scrambled untouched for an 8-yard touchdown stunning No. 1 Southern California with a 41-38 Rose Bowl victory. He was the third overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 NFL draft.
The 2006 watch list is made up of 34 candidates, including 19 seniors, 12 juniors and three sophomores representing 11 conferences.
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