Davey O’Brien Foundation
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Davey O’Brien Foundation has revealed the eight quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list for their performances in week two of the 2021 college football season. All eight are first-time honorees this season.
The Great 8 list includes: Brennan Armstrong of Virginia, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, Anthony Brown of Oregon, BYU’s Jaren Hall, Seth Henigan of Memphis, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Tanner McKee of Stanford and Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett.
Any player named to a Great 8 list during the season who was not previously named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Preseason Watch List is officially added to the Midseason Watch List and becomes eligible for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Following this week’s additions of Armstrong, Bennett, Brown, Hall, Henigan, McKee and Pickett, 42 players now comprise the current list.
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. Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.2 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
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.
Brennan Armstrong, Virginia, Jr., 6-2, 215, Shelby, Ohio
· Topped the 400-yard passing mark (27-for-36, 405 yards) while throwing five touchdowns, and also added 31 rushing yards and 18 receiving yards in a 42-14 victory over Illinois.
Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Sr., 5-11, 190, Blackshear, Ga.
· Tied the school record with five passing touchdowns and averaged 24.0 yards per pass attempt by completing 10 of 12 passes for 288 yards in a 56-7 triumph over UAB.
Anthony Brown, Oregon, Sr., 6-3, 226, Cliffwood, N.J.
· Led the Ducks to a 35-28 victory at No. 3 Ohio State, connecting on 17 of 35 passes for 236 yards and two scores and rushing 10 times for 65 yards.
Jaren Hall, BYU, So., 6-1, 205, Spanish Fork, Utah
· Directed the Cougars to a 26-17 victory over instate rival and 21st-ranked Utah, by going 18-for-30 for 149 yards and three touchdowns and rushing eight times for 92 yards.
Seth Henigan, Memphis, Fr., 6-3, 200, Denton, Texas
· Completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 417 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in a 55-50 win over Arkansas State.
Sam Howell, North Carolina, Jr., 6-1, 220, Indian Trail, N.C.
· Amassed 456 yards of total offense (352 passing, 104 rushing) and five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) as the Tar Heels defeated Georgia State, 59-17.
Tanner McKee, Stanford, So., 6-6, 225, Corona, Calif.
· Helped the Cardinal to a 42-28 road victory over No. 14 USC by completing 16 of 23 passes for 234 yards with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh, Sr., 6-3, 220, Oakhurst, N.J.
· Was 24-for-36 for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns and added 19 rushing yards and another TD in a 41-34 win at Tennessee.