University of Memphis Athletics

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw
Ferguson Named Semifinalist for Davey O’Brien Award
Nov 07, 2017 | Football
Senior quarterback is one of 16 semifinalists on the list.
MEMPHIS – Senior quarterback Riley Ferguson was one of 16 quarterbacks named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award following a tabulation of the results of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee's ballots, Tuesday. Ferguson was also named a semifinalist for the Unitas Golden Arm Award last week.
Semifinalists
Ferguson has completed 498 of 802 attempts for 27 touchdowns this season. The 27 touchdowns is third in Memphis single season history and his 59 career touchdowns is tied for second in program history with former Tiger Paxton Lynch. His 2,881 yards through nine games this season is currently seventh in Memphis single season history.
A native of Matthews, N.C., Ferguson has twice passed for over 400 yards this season and has passed for over 300-yards two other times. In the last two games as part of a five-game Memphis win streak, Ferguson has passed for 298 yards and seven combined touchdowns. Also a semifinalist for the NFF Campbell Trophy, Ferguson was named the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week after Memphis' win over then-No. 25 UCLA and he helped Memphis start its current five-game winning streak with a win over then-No. 25 ranked Navy.
The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote counts as 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.
The Fan Vote at VoteOBrien.org will reopen today (Nov. 7) and remain open until noon (CT) on Sunday, Nov. 19, for the second round of balloting. Fans are invited to cast their vote for the nation's best college quarterback as often as once daily per email address.
In conjunction with ESPN, the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Selection Committee will release the names of the three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The 2017 Davey O'Brien winner will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards Thursday, Dec. 7.
Previous winners include: Jim McMahon (BYU, 1981), Todd Blackledge (Penn State, 1982), Steve Young (BYU, 1983), Doug Flutie (Boston College, 1984), Chuck Long (Iowa, 1985), Vinny Testaverde (Miami, 1986), Don McPherson (Syracuse, 1987), Troy Aikman (UCLA, 1988), Andre Ware (Houston, 1989), Ty Detmer (BYU, 1990-91), Gino Torretta (Miami, 1992), Charlie Ward (Florida State, 1993), Kerry Collins (Penn State, 1994), Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1995-96), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997), Michael Bishop (Kansas State, 1998), Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech, 1999), Chris Weinke (Florida State, 2000), Eric Crouch (Nebraska, 2001), Brad Banks (Iowa, 2002), Jason White (Oklahoma, 2003-04), Vince Young (Texas, 2005), Troy Smith (Ohio State, 2006), Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma, 2008), Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009), Cam Newton (Auburn, 2010), Robert Griffin III (Baylor, 2011), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M, 2012), Jameis Winston (Florida State, 2013), Marcus Mariota (Oregon, 2014) and Deshaun Watson (Clemson, 2015-16).
The 41st Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Semifinalists
- J.T. Barrett (Ohio State)
- Jake Browning (Washington)
- Kelly Bryant (Clemson)
- Sam Darnold (USC)
- Luke Falk (Washington State)
- Riley Ferguson (Memphis)
- Nick Fitzgerald (Mississippi State)
- Will Grier (West Virginia)
- Kenny Hill (TCU)
- Jalen Hurts (Alabama)
- Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
- Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
- Trace McSorley (Penn State)
- McKenzie Milton (UCF)
- Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State)
- Khalil Tate (Arizona)
Ferguson has completed 498 of 802 attempts for 27 touchdowns this season. The 27 touchdowns is third in Memphis single season history and his 59 career touchdowns is tied for second in program history with former Tiger Paxton Lynch. His 2,881 yards through nine games this season is currently seventh in Memphis single season history.
A native of Matthews, N.C., Ferguson has twice passed for over 400 yards this season and has passed for over 300-yards two other times. In the last two games as part of a five-game Memphis win streak, Ferguson has passed for 298 yards and seven combined touchdowns. Also a semifinalist for the NFF Campbell Trophy, Ferguson was named the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week after Memphis' win over then-No. 25 UCLA and he helped Memphis start its current five-game winning streak with a win over then-No. 25 ranked Navy.
The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote counts as 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.
The Fan Vote at VoteOBrien.org will reopen today (Nov. 7) and remain open until noon (CT) on Sunday, Nov. 19, for the second round of balloting. Fans are invited to cast their vote for the nation's best college quarterback as often as once daily per email address.
In conjunction with ESPN, the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Selection Committee will release the names of the three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The 2017 Davey O'Brien winner will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards Thursday, Dec. 7.
Previous winners include: Jim McMahon (BYU, 1981), Todd Blackledge (Penn State, 1982), Steve Young (BYU, 1983), Doug Flutie (Boston College, 1984), Chuck Long (Iowa, 1985), Vinny Testaverde (Miami, 1986), Don McPherson (Syracuse, 1987), Troy Aikman (UCLA, 1988), Andre Ware (Houston, 1989), Ty Detmer (BYU, 1990-91), Gino Torretta (Miami, 1992), Charlie Ward (Florida State, 1993), Kerry Collins (Penn State, 1994), Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1995-96), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997), Michael Bishop (Kansas State, 1998), Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech, 1999), Chris Weinke (Florida State, 2000), Eric Crouch (Nebraska, 2001), Brad Banks (Iowa, 2002), Jason White (Oklahoma, 2003-04), Vince Young (Texas, 2005), Troy Smith (Ohio State, 2006), Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma, 2008), Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009), Cam Newton (Auburn, 2010), Robert Griffin III (Baylor, 2011), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M, 2012), Jameis Winston (Florida State, 2013), Marcus Mariota (Oregon, 2014) and Deshaun Watson (Clemson, 2015-16).
The 41st Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Players Mentioned
Football: 2025 Gasparilla Bowl Postgame Press Conference
Friday, December 19
Football: Reggie Howard Press Conference - December 16, 2025
Tuesday, December 16
Football: Jeff Brightwell One on One with Charles Huff-December 12, 2025
Friday, December 12
Football: Reggie Howard Press Conference-December 11, 2025
Thursday, December 11




