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Davey O’Brien Award

Given every year since 1981 to the best quarterback, chosen by the Davey O’Brien Foundation. Oklahoma has won it most, five times (four players). Deshaun Watson, Jason White, Danny Wuerffel and Ty Detmer won it twice.

Every winner

SeasonPlayerPositionSchool
2025Fernando MendozaQBIndiana
2024Cam WardQBMiami (FL)
2023Jayden DanielsQBLSU
2022Max DugganQBTCU
2021Bryce YoungQBAlabama
2020Mac JonesQBAlabama
2019Joe BurrowQBLSU
2018Kyler MurrayQBOklahoma
2017Baker MayfieldQBOklahoma
2016Deshaun WatsonQBClemson
2015Deshaun WatsonQBClemson
2014Marcus MariotaQBOregon
2013Jameis WinstonQBFlorida State
2012Johnny ManzielQBTexas A&M
2011Robert Griffin IIIQBBaylor
2010Cam NewtonQBAuburn
2009Colt McCoyQBTexas
2008Sam BradfordQBOklahoma
2007Tim TebowQBFlorida
2006Troy SmithQBOhio State
2005Vince YoungQBTexas
2004Jason WhiteQBOklahoma
2003Jason WhiteQBOklahoma
2002Brad BanksQBIowa
2001Eric CrouchQBNebraska
2000Chris WeinkeQBFlorida State
1999Joe HamiltonQBGeorgia Tech
1998Michael BishopQBKansas State
1997Peyton ManningQBTennessee
1996Danny WuerffelQBFlorida
1995Danny WuerffelQBFlorida
1994Kerry CollinsQBPenn State
1993Charlie WardQBFlorida State
1992Gino TorrettaQBMiami (FL)
1991Ty DetmerQBBYU
1990Ty DetmerQBBYU
1989Andre WareQBHouston
1988Troy AikmanQBUCLA
1987Don McPhersonQBSyracuse
1986Vinny TestaverdeQBMiami (FL)
1985Chuck LongQBIowa
1984Doug FlutieQBBoston College
1983Steve YoungQBBYU
1982Todd BlackledgeQBPenn State
1981Jim McMahonQBBYU

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.