FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Maryland football quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has been selected to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2023, it was announced Tuesday. Tagovailoa is one of 35 quarterbacks that are now an official candidate to win the 2023 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.
Tagovailoa currently leads the Big Ten and stands top-20 in the country in passing yards (2,200), passing touchdowns (19) and points responsible for (140). He leads the Big Ten and stands top-30 in the nation in total offense (285.5).
The redshirt junior has helped ascend the Terps' passing game to new heights during his four-year career. The quarterback has set Maryland career records for passing yards (10,079), passing touchdowns (70), total touchdowns (82), completions (854), completion percentage (66.6), 300-yard passing games (14), passing efficiency (145.8) and total offense (10,351).
His current career completion percentage (.666) is the sixth-best of any Big Ten quarterback all-time, he stands seventh all-time on the career Big Ten passing yards list with 10,079 and he is tied for ninth in career passing touchdowns in Big Ten history with 70 in his Maryland career.
Last week, Tagovailoa became the first Terp since Jonathan Claiborne in 1977 to be named a finalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, known as the "Academic Heisman", given annually to the premier scholar-athlete that is the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. One of just 16 finalists in the nation and three in the Big Ten, Tagovailoa has a 3.61 GPA in the classroom, graduating last December, earning a degree in Family Science. He is currently working towards his master's degree in African American studies.
The next step in the process will be to select the award's 16 semifinalists from the 35 quarterbacks. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote.
For the fourth straight year, the Fan Vote will take place on the award's three social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X)—and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.
To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O'Brien Award post highlighting their quarterback. The first round is open now until Friday, Nov. 10 at noon (CT). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 14.Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, Nov. 28, while the winner will be announced live on Friday, Dec. 8, on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
In 1938, O'Brien, who was 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.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 47th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Tagovailoa currently leads the Big Ten and stands top-20 in the country in passing yards (2,200), passing touchdowns (19) and points responsible for (140). He leads the Big Ten and stands top-30 in the nation in total offense (285.5).
The redshirt junior has helped ascend the Terps' passing game to new heights during his four-year career. The quarterback has set Maryland career records for passing yards (10,079), passing touchdowns (70), total touchdowns (82), completions (854), completion percentage (66.6), 300-yard passing games (14), passing efficiency (145.8) and total offense (10,351).
His current career completion percentage (.666) is the sixth-best of any Big Ten quarterback all-time, he stands seventh all-time on the career Big Ten passing yards list with 10,079 and he is tied for ninth in career passing touchdowns in Big Ten history with 70 in his Maryland career.
Last week, Tagovailoa became the first Terp since Jonathan Claiborne in 1977 to be named a finalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, known as the "Academic Heisman", given annually to the premier scholar-athlete that is the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. One of just 16 finalists in the nation and three in the Big Ten, Tagovailoa has a 3.61 GPA in the classroom, graduating last December, earning a degree in Family Science. He is currently working towards his master's degree in African American studies.
The next step in the process will be to select the award's 16 semifinalists from the 35 quarterbacks. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote.
For the fourth straight year, the Fan Vote will take place on the award's three social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X)—and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.
To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O'Brien Award post highlighting their quarterback. The first round is open now until Friday, Nov. 10 at noon (CT). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 14.Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, Nov. 28, while the winner will be announced live on Friday, Dec. 8, on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
In 1938, O'Brien, who was 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.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 47th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
