The Davey O’Brien Foundation has put out its 2021 watchlist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. According to the Foundation, “the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.”
Of the 30 signal-callers on this year’s list, five are former prep stars from the Lonestar state:
D’Eriq King, Miami:
King accounted for 3224 total yards (2686 passing, 538 rushing) and 27 total touchdowns and 5 INTs in 2020. Passed for only 113 yards and a TD in 37-34 loss to Oklahoma State in the Cheez-it Bowl. He left the game with a knee injury.
Senior year at Manvel (TX) High School: 2894 yards passing, 637 yards rushing, 51 total touchdowns. Signed with University of Houston out of high school. Announced he would transfer to Miami after 4 games of the 2019 season.
Charlie Brewer, Utah:
Brewer transferred from Baylor to Utah after the 2020 season. He leaves the Bears as #2 all-time in school history in passing yards with 9700, 1st all-time in completions (828) and attempts (1304); 2nd all-time in TD passes with 65. In nine games last season, Brewer passed for 1958 yards, 14 TDs and 8 INTs.
Senior year at Lake Travis High School: Named the 6A Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 3923 yards, 54 touchdowns and 3 INTs. He also rushed for 746 yards and 9 scores.
Frank Harris, UTSA:
In 2020, Harris passed for 1630 yards and 12 TDs and 6 INTs. He also rushed for 528 yards and nine more scores. In a 31-24 loss to Louisiana in the First Responder Bowl, Harris passed for 201 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT, and rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Senior year at Samuel Clemens High School, Schertz, TX: 946 yards passing, 14 TDs, 4 INT. 892 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.
Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State:
In nine games in 2020, 2007 yards passing, 14 touchdowns and 8 INTs. He also rushed for 269 yards and 2 TDs.
In the 37-34 win over Miami in the Cheez-it Bowl, Sanders passed for 305 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Senior year at Denton (TX) Ryan: Sanders passed for 3845 yards and 54 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions, while also rushing for 1380 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Nick Starkel, San Jose State:
In 2020, Starkel passed for 2174 yards and 17 touchdowns and seven INTs. He passed for 453 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 34-20 win over Boise State in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game.
Senior year at Liberty Christian High School (Argyle, TX): Starkel passed for 3091 yards and 29 TDs and 14 interceptions.
Signed with Texas A&M, playing for the Aggies in 2017-2018. He then transferred to Arkansas for the 2019 season, seeing limited action in new head coach Chad Morris’s offense. He passed for 1152 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 INTs in eight games with the Razorbacks.
With the 2021 college football season a little over a month away, these quarterbacks will be looking to set themselves apart and hoist some hardware.
Tony Thomas is a freelance writer. He also writes about college football on his own website, www.thegridironnews.com.
