Charlie Brewer (Baylor), Brock Purdy (Iowa State), Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) and Sam Ehlinger (Texas) have been named as semifinalists for the 2019 Davey O’Brien Award, given annually to the nation’s best quarterback. The four representatives from the Big 12 were the most from any conference.
Leader of just one of five remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, Brewer ranks in the top-20 in the NCAA in four categories, including 13th in yards per attempt (8.9), 14th in passing efficiency (159), 18th in completion percentage (.673) and 19th in total offense (283.2). He threw for a season high 352 yards and added three rushing touchdowns in Baylor’s double overtime victory over Texas Tech.
Purdy’s season will likely go down historically as the greatest by a Cyclone signal-caller as he ranks fifth nationally in total offense (344.4) and leads the Big 12 in passing yards per game (316.6), a mark that is sixth nationally. The sophomore is one of two quarterbacks in the nation with a pair of six-TD games, accomplishing the feat against ULM and at No. 10 Oklahoma.
Hurts’ impact in Norman has been felt immediately in his first season as the senior leads the nation in passing efficiency rating (219.7), yards per pass attempt (13.3) and yards per completion (18.2), marks that if the season ended today would be FBS records. Additionally, he ranks second in the NCAA in total offense (401.2 yards per game), third in completion percentage (.733), fourth in yards per rush (7.0), fifth in rushing touchdowns (15) and ninth in passing touchdowns (24).
Starting all nine games for the Longhorns this season, Ehlinger leads the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (24) and is 13th nationally in passing yards (2,641). The junior has amassed 3,042 yards of total offense, joining Colt McCoy as the only Texas players in history to account for 3,000 or more yards in fewer than 10 games.
An award that was first given in 1981, the Big 12 has a long-standing tradition with the Davey O’Brien award as it has eight previous winners, including Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) and Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) who have won it the last two years.
Fan voting for the award opens Nov. 13 and remains open until Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. CT. The three finalists for the award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 25, while the winner of the 2019 award will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 12. Additionally, the Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner will be held on Monday, Feb. 17 at the Fort Worth Club.
2019 Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalists (Big 12 Only)
Charlie Brewer, Baylor, 6-1, 206, Jr.
Brock Purdy, Iowa State, 6-1, 210, So.
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma, 6-2, 218, Sr.
Sam Ehlinger, Texas, 6-3, 230, Jr.