FORT WORTH – The Davey O'Brien Foundation revealed the 2020 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List on Tuesday, a group that includes UCF's Dillon Gabriel and 29 other top quarterbacks across the nation.
Compiled by a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, this year's list was selected based on career player performance and expectations heading into the 2020 college football season.
The Mililani, Hawaii native set the UCF freshman record and ranks fourth overall on UCF's single-season passing list with 3,653 passing yards in 2019. Starting the final 12 games, he led the UCF offense that ranked second nationally in total offense (540.5), fifth in scoring (43.4) and eighth in passing (316.7).
Gabriel was fourth nationally in passing yards per completion (15.48) and 13th in passing efficiency (156.9), 13th in passing yards (3,653) and 17th in passing touchdowns (29). He threw at least one touchdown pass in all 13 games last season, with multiple touchdown passes in 10 games.
No stranger to national accolades, Gabriel was named Walter Camp National Player of the Week, CSM National Player of the Week, PFF GameDay Player of the Week, spot on PFF National Team of the Week, Davey O'Brien Great 8 and Manning Star of the Week as a rookie in 2019.
Gabriel's inclusion on the watch list marks the third time in four years that a Knight has been associated with the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. McKenzie Milton was a semifinalist for the award in 2017 and 2018.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Appearing on the preseason watch list is not a requirement for a player to win the award. This year, players who have been honored as weekly Davey O'Brien Great 8 recipients, as well as any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee, will be added to form the final midseason watch list on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Sixteen semifinalists selected from the final watch list will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2020 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN Thursday, Dec. 10, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The 44th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas.
About the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.
About the National College Football Awards Association
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
2020 Watch Lists
June 5 – Grant, Lott IMPACT Trophy
July 13 – Grant, Bednarik Award
July 14 – Gabriel, O'Brien Award
