The Davey O’Brien Foundation announced today that Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is one of 36 players on the list of nominees for the Davey O’Brien Award, given annually to the nation’s top quarterback.
This year’s list was compiled by a subgroup of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee and is based on past players’ performance at the Division I level as well as expectations for the 2024 college football season.
The preseason roster includes 22 seniors, 12 juniors and two sophomores. The roster includes eight members from both the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 Conference. Other leagues with multiple award winners include the Southeastern Conference (6), Big Ten (4), American (3), Conference USA (2) and Sun Belt (2).
Eleven of the players were semifinalists for the award in 2023: Carson Beck (Georgia), Brady Cook (Missouri), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Jordan McCloud (Texas State), Kyle McCord (Syracuse), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Kaidon Salter (Liberty), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and DJ Uiagalelei (Florida State).
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, October 22nd and will include active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, players who were honored as Great 8 recipients weekly through the first eight weeks of the season and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection committee.
The Midseason Watch List will be whittled down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024 on Tuesday, October 29. For the fourth consecutive year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus votes on the Selection Committee during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin on October 29 following the QB Class announcement.
The list of semifinalists from the QB class will be announced on Tuesday, November 12. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Tuesday, November 26). The winner of the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award will be announced on Thursday, December 12, during the Home Depot College Football Awards live on ESPN.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is given annually to the nation’s top college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 48th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025, at the Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
2024 Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List
Joey Aguilar, Appalachian State, Sr., 6-3, 220, Antioch, California.
Drew Allar, Penn State, Jr., 6-5, 238, Medina, Ohio
Rocco Becht, Iowa State, Sun., 6-1, 205, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Carson Beck, Georgia, Sr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Florida.
Byrum Brown, South Florida, Jr., 6-3, 209, Raleigh, NC
Brady Cook, Missouri, Sr., 6-2, 215, St. Louis, Mo.
Jalon Daniels, Kansas, Jr., 6-0, 220, Lawndale, California.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-2, 225, Kaysville, Utah
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech, Jr., 6-2, 234, Pearland, Texas
Quinn Ewers, Texas, Jr., 6-2, 210, Southlake, Texas
Noah Fifita, Arizona, Sun., 5-10, 188, Huntington Beach, California.
TJ Finley, Western Kentucky, Jr., 6-7, 238, Ponchatoula, La.
Dequan Finn, Baylor, Sr., 6-2, 206, Detroit, Michigan.
Brett Gabbert, Miami (OH), Sr., 6-0, 210, St. Louis, Mo.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, Sr., 5-11, 204, Mililani, Hawaii
GarreN Greene, West Virginia, Sr., 5-11, 201, Tallahassee, Fla.
Seth Henigan, Memphis, Sr., 6-3, 215, Denton, Texas
Will Howard, Ohio State, Sr., 6-4, 237, Downingtown, Pa.
KJ Jefferson, UCF, Sr., 6-3, 247, Sardis, Miss.
Mikey Keene, Fresno State, Jr., 5-11, 200, Chandler, Arizona.
Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Jr., 6-3, 215, Longview, Texas
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Jr., 6-2, 205, Austin, Texas
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-4, 216, Fairhope, Alabama.
Grayson McCall, NC State, Sr., 6-3, 220, Indian Trail, NC
Jordan McCloud, Texas State, Sr., 6-0, 200, Tampa, Florida.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse, Sr., 6-3, 220, Mt. Laurel, NJ
Graham Mertz, Florida, Sr., 6-2, 216, Overland Park, Kansas.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 220, Katy, Texas
Cameron Rising, Utah, Sr., 6-2, 220, Ventura, California.
Will Rogers, Washington, Sr., 6-2, 216, Brandon, Miss.
Kaidon Salter, Liberty, Jr., 6-1, 200, Cedar Hill, Texas
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Sr., 6-2, 215, Dallas, Texas
Preston Stone, SMU, Jr., 6-1, 214, Dallas, Texas
DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State, Sr., 6-4, 252, Inland Empire, California.
Cameron Ward, Miami, Sr., 6-3, 223, West Columbia, Texas
Jacob Zeno, UAB, Sr., 6-4, 210, San Antonio, Texas
About the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA presents college football’s most prestigious awards. Since 1935, its 24 awards have honored over 900 recipients. For more information about the NCFAA and its awards programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow us on X at @NCFAA.
Sixteen NCFAA members will release their preseason watch lists within 15 days as the association leads a coordinated effort to promote the preseason candidates for each award. Below is the remaining calendar of preseason watch lists for 2024:
Fri. Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
Monday, August 12: Bednarik Award
Tue, Aug 13: Butkus Award
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s Class of 2022 are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
