Want to know how ridiculous preseason award watch lists can be? In 2014, Joel Stave is a candidate for the award handed out for the best quarterback in college football.
No seriously, his name is one of just 39 quarterbacks named to the 2014 Davey O’Brien Award watch list. Nevermind the fact that Stave is in the middle of an intense battle with Tanner McEvoy coming in to the fall.
How funny and completely telling of exactly how little stock one should put in these lists would it be if Stave isn’t the starter this year?
Not to say Stave won’t eventually win the battle and make us all look a bit foolish, but with just 39 quarterbacks on the list it is surprising to see any quarterback who’s battling for his job on the list.
Last season, Stave completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 2,494 yards and 22 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. He started all 13 games for the Badgers and led them to a 9-4 season.
Stave is joined on the watch list by fellow Big Ten quarterbacks Connor Cook, Devin Gardner, Christian Hackenberg and Braxton Miller.
Jameis Winston won the award last season and returns for this year. He is joined by five other semifinalists from a season ago — Brett Hundley (UCLA), Sean Mannion (Oregon State), Marcus Mariota (Oregon), Braxton Miller (Ohio State) and Bryce Petty (Baylor).
The good news is that whomever wins the fall camp battle at quarterback will still have the chance (albeit slim as can be) of winning the award — and that’s because being on the watch list isn’t a requirement to win the award.
2014 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® Watch List:
Anthony Boone (Duke, Senior)
Terrance Broadway (Louisiana, Senior)
Shane Carden (East Carolina, Senior)
Rakeem Cato (Marshall, Senior)
Connor Cook (Michigan State, Junior)
Jeff Driskel (Florida, Junior)
Cody Fajardo (Nevada, Senior)
Devin Gardner (Michigan, Senior)
Jared Goff (California, Sophomore)
Everett Golson (Notre Dame, Junior)
Garrett Grayson (Colorado State, Senior)
Christian Hackenberg (Penn State, Sophomore)
Connor Halliday (Washington State, Senior)
Grant Hedrick (Boise State, Senior)
Taylor Heinicke (Old Dominion, Senior)
Taysom Hill (BYU, Junior)
Kevin Hogan (Stanford, Junior)
Brett Hundley (UCLA, Junior)
Matt Johnson (Bowling Green, Junior)
Chuckie Keeton (Utah State, Senior)
Taylor Kelly (Arizona State, Senior)
Cody Kessler (USC, Junior)
Trevor Knight (Oklahoma, Sophomore)
Sean Mannion (Oregon State, Senior)
Marcus Mariota (Oregon, Junior)
Nick Marshall (Auburn, Senior)
Hutson Mason (Georgia, Senior)
Braxton Miller (Ohio State, Senior)
John O’Korn (Houston, Sophomore)
Bryce Petty (Baylor, Senior)
Dak Prescott (Mississippi State, Junior)
Keenan Reynolds (Navy, Junior)
Joel Stave (Wisconsin, Junior)
P.J. Walker (Temple, Sophomore)
Bo Wallace (Ole Miss, Senior)
J.W. Walsh (Oklahoma State, Junior)
Jake Waters (Kansas State, Senior)
Davis Webb (Texas Tech, Sophomore)
Jameis Winston (Florida State, Sophomore)
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