Zach Wilson Named Semifinalist For Davey O’Brien Award

PROVO, Utah – BYU star quarterback Zach Wilson is a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award. An award presented to the top quarterback in college football.

Wilson became one of 16 quarterbacks to make the semifinalist cut for the O’Brien.

#BYU QB Zach Wilson is one of 16 quarterbacks to be named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award.#BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 7, 2020

BYU has produced four Davey O’Brien Award winners in its history since the award became a quarterback-only honor in 1981.

Wilson has led BYU to a 9-1 record in 2020. The best 10-game start to a season since 2001, when the Cougars began that year at 10-0.

The junior signal-caller is sixth nationally with 2,964 passing yards, second in points responsible for (214), third in yards per pass attempt (11.10), passing TDs (27), passing efficiency (197.40), fifth in completion percentage (73.3%), and eighth in passing yards per completion (15.2).

The next step in the process will be to select the award’s three finalists from these 16 quarterbacks. Round two fan voting is now open and will close on Sunday, Dec. 20. National selection committee voting will take place from Dec. 16-20.

The three finalists will be named on Tuesday, Dec. 22. The winner is to be announced live on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, on the 30th annual The Home Depot College Football Awards, which will be held virtually from 7-8:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.

Zach Wilson makes 2020 Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalists

Ian Book, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-0, 206, El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Matt Corral, Ole Miss, So., 6-1, 205, Ventura, Calif.

Sam Ehlinger, Texas, Sr., 6-3, 225, Austin, Texas

Justin Fields, Ohio State, Jr., 6-3, 228, Kennesaw, Ga.

Dillon Gabriel, UCF, So., 6-0, 186, Mililani, Hawaii

Sam Howell, North Carolina, So., 6-1, 225, Indian Trail, N.C.

Mac Jones, Alabama, Jr., 6-3, 214, Jacksonville, Fla.

D’Eriq King, Miami, Sr., 5-11, 202, Manvel, Texas

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, Jr., 6-6, 220, Cartersville, Ga.

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina, Fr., 6-3, 200, Indian Trail, N.C.

Kellen Mond, Texas A&M, Sr., 6-3, 217, San Antonio, Texas

*Michael Penix Jr., Indiana, So., 6-3, 218, Tampa, Fla.

Brock Purdy, Iowa State, Jr., 6-1, 212, Gilbert, Ariz.

Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma, Fr., 6-1, 205, Phoenix, Ariz.

Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati, Jr., 6-4, 215, Louisville, Ky.

Kyle Trask, Florida, Sr., 6-5, 240, Manvel, Texas

Zach Wilson, BYU, Jr., 6-3, 210, Draper, Utah

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.