Nov. 8, 2006
Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn has been named a semifinalist for the 2006 Davey O¹Brien National Quarterback Award, presented annually to the nation¹s best college quarterback. Quinn is one of 18 semifinalists announced by The Davey O¹Brien Foundation.
Quinn continues to rewrite the Notre Dame record books and now owns 35 school records. The most prolific passer in Notre Dame history, Quinn has thrown for 2,579 yards this season with 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 63.6 percent of his passes. Earlier this year, he became the 32nd player in NCAA Division I-A history to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards and he¹s on pace to finish with over 12,000 career passing yards and over 90 touchdown passes.
The O¹Brien Selection Committee consists of a nationwide panel of sportswriters, commentators and former O¹Brien Award winners. The committee will vote later this month to narrow the field to three finalists to be announced Nov. 21 by the National College Football Awards Association.
The winner of the 2006 Davey O¹Brien National Quarterback Award will be announced Dec. 7 on ESPN¹s Home Depot College Football Awards Show. The winner will then be honored Feb. 19, 2007 at the 30th annual Davey O¹Brien Awards Dinner in Fort Worth, Texas along with former Irish great Paul Hornung, recipient of the 2006 Davey O¹Brien Legends Award, and the O¹Brien High School Scholarship Award winner.
The 18 semifinalists, in alphabetical order, are:
Erik Ainge, Tennessee, Jr., SEC
John Beck, BYU, Sr., MWC
John David Booty, USC, Jr., PAC-10
Colt Brennan, Hawai’i, Jr., WAC
Brian Brohm, Louisville, Jr., Big East
Chad Henne, Michigan, Jr., Big Ten
Kevin Kolb, Houston, Sr., C-USA
Chris Leak, Florida, Sr., SEC
Nate Longshore, California, So., PAC-10
Colt McCoy, Texas, Fr., Big 12
Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh, Sr., Big East
Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, Sr., Ind.
Bobby Reid, Oklahoma State, So., Big 12
JaMarcus Russell, LSU, Jr., SEC
Troy Smith, Ohio State, Sr., Big Ten
John Stocco, Wisconsin, Sr., Big Ten
Pat White, West Virginia, So., Big East
Jared Zabransky, Boise State, Sr., WAC