Armstrong among 35 QBs on Davey O’Brien Award Watch List

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong is one of 35 quarterbacks on the 2022 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Presweason Watch List. The award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.

Armstrong is one of 12 semifinalists from last year to be featured on the preseason watch list. On Monday, the Cavalier quarterback was included on the Maxwell Award Watch List and has already garnered preseason All-ACC honors from Athlon Sports (third team) and by Phil Steele (fourth team).

The UVA signal caller is coming off a record-breaking year in which he broke UVA’s single season passing yards (4,449), passing touchdowns (31), completions (326) and total offense (4,700) records. His 404.4 passing yards per game were the most ever by an ACC quarterback and he was only 145 yards shy of breaking the ACC’s all-time single season passing record in just 11 games played.

Armstrong owns seven of the top-10 passing performances in UVA history including his school-record 554-yard, four touchdown game against North Carolina last season. It was one of nine 550-plus yard games against power-5 programs in all of college football since the 2015 season. He passed for 300 or more yards 10 times in 2021 and 400 yards on six different occasions. Prior to the season, only two UVA quarterbacks threw for 400 or more yards in a game.

Entering the 2022 season, Armstrong needs 679 yards to break UVA legend and 17-year NFL QB Matt Schaub’s career passing record and six touchdowns away from eclipsing his career touchdown record at Virginia. After a school record 4,700 yards of total offense last season, Armstrong is 191 total yards away from breaking Bryce Perkins’ career mark.

In addition to being a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Award last season, Armstrong was a top-10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a finalist for the Manning Award. He garnered Third Team All-ACC honors and was an honorable mention on both the Pro Football Focus and the Phil Steele All-America Teams.

Davey O’Brien Award Timeline

Tuesday, Oct. 18 – Midseason Watch List Released (includes all active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, all players honored as a weekly Great 8 recipient through the season’s first seven weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.)

Tuesday, Oct. 25 – The Midseason Watch List will then be pared down to the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2022. 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 also begin on Oct. 25.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 – Sixteen semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named.

Monday, Nov. 21 – The Foundation will announce the three finalists.

Thursday Dec. 8 – The 2022 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards.