Howard named a Davey O’Brien Award “Great 8” Quarterback
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 12, 2016) - West Virginia senior quarterback Skyler Howard was named a Davey O'Brien "Great 8" quarterback for his outstanding performance in the 38-21 win over Youngstown State as announced today by the Davey O'Brien Award's selection subcommittee.
Howard completed 20-of-33 passes for 389 yards and five touchdowns against the Penguins. His 389 yards were the second most yards in his career and the fourth 300+ passing performance of his career. His five touchdowns went for 53, 54, 11, 57 and 21 yards, tying his five-touchdown performance in the Cactus Bowl against Arizona State on January 2. Against YSU, he also ran eight times for 50 yards and completed 15 passes of more than 10 yards, seven or more than 20 yards and four for more than 40 yards.
Improbable finishes and record-setting numbers highlighted the quarterback performances worthy of the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" honors for week two of the college football season.
The eight honorees, as determined by voting from the award's selection subcommittee, include: Austin Allen of Arkansas, Washington's Jake Browning, Joshua Dobbs of Tennessee, USF's Quinton Flowers, Skyler Howard of West Virginia, Louisville's Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech and Central Michigan's Cooper Rush.
Six of the players - Browning, Dobbs, Flowers, Howard, Mahomes and Rush - were named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award's watch list prior to the season. Meanwhile, Jackson is the lone player to appear on the first two "Great 8" lists of the season.
All 128 FBS quarterbacks are eligible for the weekly honor. The winner of the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week's "Great 8" quarterbacks, will be announced Tuesday.
In 1938, Davey O'Brien, who wore No. 8 as a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
O'Brien was drafted fourth overall in the 1939 NFL Draft and earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season after setting a National Football League record for season passing yardage. The NFL's highest-paid player retired after the 1940 season to become an FBI agent.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981. The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote, now in its 10th year, gives fans a chance to play a role in determining the award winner by voting daily at VoteOBrien.org.
Since 1977, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away nearly $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 DaveyOBrien.org.
Week 2 "Great 8" Performances:
Austin Allen, Arkansas, Jr., 6-1, 209, Fayetteville, Ark.Led Arkansas to a heart-stopping upset at No. 15 TCU by going 17-for-29 for 223 yards and three TDs, and rushing for the game-winning score in double overtime.
Jake Browning, Washington, So., 6-2, 209, Folsom, Calif.Tied the school's single-game record with five touchdown passes, while throwing just five incompletions (23-for-28, 294 yards), in a 59-14 win over Idaho.
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee, Sr., 6-3, 210, Alpharetta, Ga.Tallied five touchdowns in a 45-24 win over Virginia Tech, throwing for three TDs and rushing 14 times for 106 yards (21st 100-yard rushing game) and two scores.
Quinton Flowers, USF, Jr. 6-0, 210, Miami, Fla.Posted career-high numbers in passing yards (350), passing touchdowns (4) and total offense (403) in the Bulls' 48-17 win over Northern Illinois.
Skyler Howard, West Virginia, Sr., 6-0, 207, Fort Worth, TexasCollected five touchdown passes, going 20-of-33 overall for 389 yards, and had eight carries for 50 yards in a 38-21 victory over Youngstown State.
Lamar Jackson, Louisville, So., 6-3, 205, Boynton Beach, Fla.Became first FBS player ever to pass for 400-plus yards (411, 1 TD) and rush for more than 175 (199, 4 TDs); set ACC record with 610 total yards versus Syracuse.
Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech, Jr., 6-3, 230, Whitehouse, TexasFinished 38-of-53 passing for 540 yards and five touchdowns, and added 11 carries for 44 yards and a score, in a 68-55 defeat at Arizona State.
Cooper Rush, Central Michigan, Sr., 6-3, 230, Charlotte, Mich.Defeated No. 22 Oklahoma State with a game-winning, 51-yard Hail Mary with no time on the clock, and finished the day 30 of 42 for 361 yards and four scores.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 12, 2016) - West Virginia senior quarterback Skyler Howard was named a Davey O'Brien "Great 8" quarterback for his outstanding performance in the 38-21 win over Youngstown State as announced today by the Davey O'Brien Award's selection subcommittee.
Howard completed 20-of-33 passes for 389 yards and five touchdowns against the Penguins. His 389 yards were the second most yards in his career and the fourth 300+ passing performance of his career. His five touchdowns went for 53, 54, 11, 57 and 21 yards, tying his five-touchdown performance in the Cactus Bowl against Arizona State on January 2. Against YSU, he also ran eight times for 50 yards and completed 15 passes of more than 10 yards, seven or more than 20 yards and four for more than 40 yards.
Improbable finishes and record-setting numbers highlighted the quarterback performances worthy of the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" honors for week two of the college football season.
The eight honorees, as determined by voting from the award's selection subcommittee, include: Austin Allen of Arkansas, Washington's Jake Browning, Joshua Dobbs of Tennessee, USF's Quinton Flowers, Skyler Howard of West Virginia, Louisville's Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech and Central Michigan's Cooper Rush.
Six of the players - Browning, Dobbs, Flowers, Howard, Mahomes and Rush - were named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award's watch list prior to the season. Meanwhile, Jackson is the lone player to appear on the first two "Great 8" lists of the season.
All 128 FBS quarterbacks are eligible for the weekly honor. The winner of the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week's "Great 8" quarterbacks, will be announced Tuesday.
In 1938, Davey O'Brien, who wore No. 8 as a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
O'Brien was drafted fourth overall in the 1939 NFL Draft and earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season after setting a National Football League record for season passing yardage. The NFL's highest-paid player retired after the 1940 season to become an FBI agent.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981. The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote, now in its 10th year, gives fans a chance to play a role in determining the award winner by voting daily at VoteOBrien.org.
Since 1977, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away nearly $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 DaveyOBrien.org.
Week 2 "Great 8" Performances:
Austin Allen, Arkansas, Jr., 6-1, 209, Fayetteville, Ark.Led Arkansas to a heart-stopping upset at No. 15 TCU by going 17-for-29 for 223 yards and three TDs, and rushing for the game-winning score in double overtime.
Jake Browning, Washington, So., 6-2, 209, Folsom, Calif.Tied the school's single-game record with five touchdown passes, while throwing just five incompletions (23-for-28, 294 yards), in a 59-14 win over Idaho.
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee, Sr., 6-3, 210, Alpharetta, Ga.Tallied five touchdowns in a 45-24 win over Virginia Tech, throwing for three TDs and rushing 14 times for 106 yards (21st 100-yard rushing game) and two scores.
Quinton Flowers, USF, Jr. 6-0, 210, Miami, Fla.Posted career-high numbers in passing yards (350), passing touchdowns (4) and total offense (403) in the Bulls' 48-17 win over Northern Illinois.
Skyler Howard, West Virginia, Sr., 6-0, 207, Fort Worth, TexasCollected five touchdown passes, going 20-of-33 overall for 389 yards, and had eight carries for 50 yards in a 38-21 victory over Youngstown State.
Lamar Jackson, Louisville, So., 6-3, 205, Boynton Beach, Fla.Became first FBS player ever to pass for 400-plus yards (411, 1 TD) and rush for more than 175 (199, 4 TDs); set ACC record with 610 total yards versus Syracuse.
Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech, Jr., 6-3, 230, Whitehouse, TexasFinished 38-of-53 passing for 540 yards and five touchdowns, and added 11 carries for 44 yards and a score, in a 68-55 defeat at Arizona State.
Cooper Rush, Central Michigan, Sr., 6-3, 230, Charlotte, Mich.Defeated No. 22 Oklahoma State with a game-winning, 51-yard Hail Mary with no time on the clock, and finished the day 30 of 42 for 361 yards and four scores.
