University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: George Walker
Ferguson On Davey O'Brien Watch List
Jul 19, 2017 | Football
Honor given annually to nation's top quarterback.
FORT WORTH, Texas – University of Memphis senior quarterback Riley Ferguson has been named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award watch list, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced Wednesday. The O'Brien Award annually recognizes college football's best quarterback.
Ferguson is one of two quarterbacks from the American Athletic Conference on the O'Brien Award watch list. USF's Quinton Flowers is the other quarterback from the league on the list.
The Matthews, N.C., native returns in 2017 after one of the most productive seasons by a quarterback in program history. Ferguson was 280-of-443 passing for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns last season. His 32 touchdown tosses set a school season mark, and his 3,698 yards and 280 completions are the second-most in program history behind only Paxton Lynch, who was a 2016 NFL Draft first-round pick of the Denver Broncos.
In 2016, Ferguson posted seven 300-yard passing performances, the second-most for a season behind Lynch, and became only the third quarterback in program history to pass for over 400 yards in a game (Lynch, Martin Hankins). Ferguson's 400-yard game came in the 2016 regular-season finale win over No. 18/21 Houston. He finished the Houston game with 406 passing yards and eclipsed the 400-yard mark on his final attempt and completion of the game, a 10-yard pass to Anthony Miller for the game-winning touchdown with :19 remaining.
Ferguson finished the 2016 campaign ranked among the American Athletic Conference leaders in passing yards per game (2nd; 284.5 ypg), pass efficiency (2nd; 152.6), total offense (3rd; 279.1 ypg) and touchdown passes (T1st; 32). His 32 touchdowns passes were 11th-most at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in 2016.
After only one season, Ferguson's name appears on several career charts. He enters 2017 on the completions (6th), attempts (8th), yards (7th), TD (4th) and 300-yard passing games (4th).
Sixteen semifinalists for the O'Brien Award will be named Nov. 7. From that list, the Foundation and the Selection Committee will announce the three finalists Nov. 20. The 2017 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be announced Dec. 7 at The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 2017 season marks the 11th year that fans will be invited to participate in the voting process on VoteOBrien.org. Results from the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote will be combined with the ballots from the Selection Committee. Fan voting, which accounts for five percent of the total balloting, will begin Sept. 5.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
Ferguson (Maxwell, O'Brien) is one of seven Tigers to be named to 2017 preseason watch lists. Other Memphis preseason watch list candidates are: linebacker Genard Avery (Bronko Nagurski, Butkus), offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn (Outland Trophy), center Drew Kyser (Rimington Trophy), wide receiver Anthony Miller (Biletnikoff), running back/kick returner Tony Pollard (Hornung Award) and punter Spencer Smith (Ray Guy Award). Smith also earned a nomination for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.
Memphis is inching closer towards the start of the 2017 preseason camp. The team reports to campus July 27, with the first day of practice scheduled the following day.
The Tigers open their 2017 season with a special Labor Day weekend/Thursday night game against Louisiana-Monroe Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis' season opener is the first of seven home games for the 2017 campaign. Season tickets are on sale now, beginning at $130 (or $115 for TSF members at the $100 donor level) for all seven home games. Tickets and season parking passes can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGo.com/Footballtickets.
Ferguson is one of two quarterbacks from the American Athletic Conference on the O'Brien Award watch list. USF's Quinton Flowers is the other quarterback from the league on the list.
The Matthews, N.C., native returns in 2017 after one of the most productive seasons by a quarterback in program history. Ferguson was 280-of-443 passing for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns last season. His 32 touchdown tosses set a school season mark, and his 3,698 yards and 280 completions are the second-most in program history behind only Paxton Lynch, who was a 2016 NFL Draft first-round pick of the Denver Broncos.
In 2016, Ferguson posted seven 300-yard passing performances, the second-most for a season behind Lynch, and became only the third quarterback in program history to pass for over 400 yards in a game (Lynch, Martin Hankins). Ferguson's 400-yard game came in the 2016 regular-season finale win over No. 18/21 Houston. He finished the Houston game with 406 passing yards and eclipsed the 400-yard mark on his final attempt and completion of the game, a 10-yard pass to Anthony Miller for the game-winning touchdown with :19 remaining.
Ferguson finished the 2016 campaign ranked among the American Athletic Conference leaders in passing yards per game (2nd; 284.5 ypg), pass efficiency (2nd; 152.6), total offense (3rd; 279.1 ypg) and touchdown passes (T1st; 32). His 32 touchdowns passes were 11th-most at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in 2016.
After only one season, Ferguson's name appears on several career charts. He enters 2017 on the completions (6th), attempts (8th), yards (7th), TD (4th) and 300-yard passing games (4th).
Sixteen semifinalists for the O'Brien Award will be named Nov. 7. From that list, the Foundation and the Selection Committee will announce the three finalists Nov. 20. The 2017 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be announced Dec. 7 at The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 2017 season marks the 11th year that fans will be invited to participate in the voting process on VoteOBrien.org. Results from the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote will be combined with the ballots from the Selection Committee. Fan voting, which accounts for five percent of the total balloting, will begin Sept. 5.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
Ferguson (Maxwell, O'Brien) is one of seven Tigers to be named to 2017 preseason watch lists. Other Memphis preseason watch list candidates are: linebacker Genard Avery (Bronko Nagurski, Butkus), offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn (Outland Trophy), center Drew Kyser (Rimington Trophy), wide receiver Anthony Miller (Biletnikoff), running back/kick returner Tony Pollard (Hornung Award) and punter Spencer Smith (Ray Guy Award). Smith also earned a nomination for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.
Memphis is inching closer towards the start of the 2017 preseason camp. The team reports to campus July 27, with the first day of practice scheduled the following day.
The Tigers open their 2017 season with a special Labor Day weekend/Thursday night game against Louisiana-Monroe Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis' season opener is the first of seven home games for the 2017 campaign. Season tickets are on sale now, beginning at $130 (or $115 for TSF members at the $100 donor level) for all seven home games. Tickets and season parking passes can be purchased online at www.GoTigersGo.com/Footballtickets.
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