by FORT WORTH – Junior quarterback Mason Fine (Cherokee Nation) was named as one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, the award’s selection committee announced Wednesday.
Semifinalists were determined by a combination of votes from the Davey O’Brien national selection committee and fan voting.
The semifinalists are: Ian Book (Notre Dame), Mason Fine (North Texas), Ryan Finley (NC State), Jake Fromm (Georgia), Will Grier (West Virginia), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Justin Herbert (Oregon), D’Eriq King (Houston), Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Jordan Love (Utah State), Marcus McMaryion (Fresno State), McKenzie Milton (UCF), Gardner Minshew (Washington State), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Shea Patterson (Michigan) and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama).
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the best college quarterback, and is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
Fine has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes for 2,879 yards, 21 touchdowns and only one interception. The Peggs, Oklahoma, native ranks fifth in the nation in passing yards, sixth in passing yards per game, 12th in passing touchdowns, eighth in completions per game (24.56), 20th in passing efficiency (154.11) and is ninth in total offense (321.0 yards per game). The preseason all-Conference USA selection and reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Year has the longest active streak of pass attempts without an interception (276). Fine has thrown for 400-plus yards twice in 2018 (Week 1 in a win over SMU and Week 2 in the win over Incarnate Word), 300-yards two more times, and has twice been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
Fine is 16 yards behind Mitch Maher for the program record in career passing yards and has led the Mean Green to its first 7-2 start in 40 years. The two-time Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year while in high school is already the program record-holder in completions (700), is currently first in career passing efficiency (140.11), second in career pass attempts (1,116) and career completion percentage (62.7 percent), as well as third in career passing touchdowns (58). He also set several single-season program records in 2017, when he became the first player in North Texas history to throw for 4,000-plus yards (4,032) and 30-plus touchdowns (32).
For more information on Fine and his junior campaign, head to MasonFine6.com.
The Davey O’Brien Fan Vote counts five percent during each round of the voting process, and is combined with the results from the Foundation’s national selection committee, which is comprised of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners.
After clearing the first round totals, the fan vote at VoteOBrien.org will reopen Wednesday, Nov. 7, and remain open until noon CT on Sunday, Nov. 18, for the second round of balloting. Fans are invited to cast their vote for the nation’s best college quarterback once daily per email address.
In conjunction with ESPN, the Davey O’Brien Foundation will release the names of the three finalists on Monday, Nov. 19. The 2018 Davey O’Brien winner will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards Thursday, Dec. 6.
The 42nd Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner will be held Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas
