Davey O'Brien Award names 35 quarterbacks to preseason watch list

The 2023 Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch was released Tuesday and it features 35 quarterbacks in college football to keep an eye on.

The usual suspects like Caleb Williams and Drake Maye of USC and North Carolina, respectively, are on the list. They could be the top two picks in next year’s draft and are certainly Heisman Trophy candidates.

Below is the full group of quarterbacks, courtesy of the official Davey O’Brien Award watchlist.

Davey O’Brien preseason watch list

Carter Bradley, South Alabama, Sr., 6-3, 216, Jacksonville, Fla.
Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State, Sr., 6-1, 196, Honolulu, Hawai’i
Jalon Daniels, Kansas, Jr., 6-0, 215, Lawndale, Calif.
Jayden Daniels, LSU, Sr., 6-4, 210, San Bernardino, Calif.
Quinn Ewers, Texas, So., 6-2, 195, Southlake, Texas
Dequan Finn, Toledo, Jr., 6-2, 205, Detroit, Mich.
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma, Sr., 5-11, 204, Mililani, Hawai’i
Taylen Green, Boise State, So., 6-6, 223, Lewisville, Texas
Frank Harris, UTSA, Sr., 6-0, 205, Schertz, Texas
Sam Hartman, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-1, 212, Charlotte, N.C.
Seth Henigan, Memphis, Jr., 6-3, 210, Denton, Texas
Will Howard, Kansas State, Sr., 6-5, 242, Downingtown, Pa.
KJ Jefferson, Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 247, Sardis, Miss.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, So., 6-2, 195, Austin, Texas
Devin Leary, Kentucky, Sr., 6-1, 217, Sicklerville, N.J.
Riley Leonard, Duke, Jr., 6-4, 212, Fairhope, Ala.
Drake Maye, North Carolina, So., 6-4, 230, Huntersville, N.C.
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 220, Indian Trail, N.C.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan, Jr., 6-3, 202, La Grange Park, Ill.
Joe Milton III, Tennessee, Sr., 6-5, 235, Pahokee, Fla.
Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin, Sr., 6-2, 218, Waco, Texas
Bo Nix, Oregon, Sr., 6-3, 214, Pinson, Ala.
Michael Penix Jr., Washington, Sr., 6-3, 213, Tampa, Fla.
John Rhys Plumlee, UCF, Sr., 6-0, 200, Hattiesburg, Miss.
Michael Pratt, Tulane, Jr., 6-3, 220, Boca Raton, Fla.
Austin Reed, Western Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 230, St. Augustine Beach, Fla.
Cameron Rising, Utah, Sr., 6-2, 220, Ventura, Calif.
Will Rogers, Mississippi State, Jr., 6-2, 210, Brandon, Miss.
Kurtis Rourke, Ohio, Sr., 6-5, 231, Oakville, Ontario, Canada?
Garrett Shrader, Syracuse, Sr., 6-4, 225, Charlotte, N.C.
Jeff Sims, Nebraska, Jr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland, Sr., 5-11, 208, Ewa Beach, Hawai’i
Jordan Travis, Florida State, Sr., 6-1, 212, West Palm Beach, Fla.
E.J. Warner, Temple, So., 6-0, 190, Phoenix, Ariz.
Caleb Williams, USC, Jr., 6-1, 220, Washington, D.C.

The criteria for the award is listed below:

“Compiled by a subset of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee, this year’s list was selected based on career player performance and expectations heading into the 2023 college football season,” the Davey O’Brien Award release read. “All nominees are required to have previously started at least one game at an NCAA Division I institution.

“The Midseason Watch List will then be pared down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023 on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will again play a role in the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting totals when combined with the national selection committee’s ballots. Voting will begin on Oct. 31.

“The list of semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Tuesday, Nov. 28). The 2023 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 7, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.”