Ole Miss QB Matt Corral named Semifinalist for Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, for the second straight year.

This year’s list of semifinalists is comprised of nine seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen, and consists of players from nine FBS conferences as well as one football independent. The Southeastern Conference has the most honorees with five, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (four).

🐀☠️ (Did we do it right Coach @LaneKiffin?)

Vote for @corral_matt of @OleMissFB to be a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award by liking this post. The top 5 vote getters on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook will receive bonus committee votes each week. #DaveyQBs @OleMissSports pic.twitter.com/lpF5cA5e44

— Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (@daveyobrien) November 9, 2021

Corral, a junior from Ventura, California, is the Rebels’ leading rusher with 528 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards and 16 touchdowns–and only tallied two interceptions through nine games.

He ranks No. 8 in the FBS in total offense (339.4, and is one of only two quarterbacks nationally with at least 15 passing TDs and 10 rushing touchdowns this season. His 10 rushing TDs are the third-most ever by a Rebel quarterback in a single season.

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.

List of Semifinalists

In alphabetical order, the semifinalists are: Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong, Stetson Bennett of Georgia, Oregon’s Anthony Brown, Matt Corral of Ole Miss, Fresno State’s Jake Haener, Frank Harris of UTSA, Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman, Hendon Hooker of Tennessee, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina, SMU’s Tanner Mordecai, Kenny Pickett of Pitt, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, Will Rogers of Mississippi State, Nevada’s Carson Strong, C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams, Malik Willis of Liberty, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Bailey Zappe of Western Kentucky.

Congratulations to the 20 semifinalists for the 2021 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award!

Our Fan Vote will re-launch today and our National Selection Committee will vote again in 2 weeks. The 3 finalists will be revealed on Nov. 23. #DaveyQBs

📰: https://t.co/wxyH5nycgx pic.twitter.com/BvrKw3Iwh9

— Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (@daveyobrien) November 9, 2021

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.

Four of the 20 quarterbacks­ – Corral, Howell, McCall and Ridder–are semifinalists for the second straight year. None of the quarterbacks has previously been named a finalist.

Next Up:

The three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The winner will be announced live on Thursday, Dec. 9 on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.