By Jamie Plunkett
Frogs Today staff writer
Max Duggan has added to his trophy cabinet for the second straight day.
TCU’s senior quarterback has won the Davey O’Brien Award, given annually to the best quarterback in college football. Duggan is the first TCU quarterback to win the award, which is named after former TCU quarterback Davey O’Brien. Trevone Boykin was a finalist for the award in 2014.
Coach Sonny Dykes reacted to Duggan winning his second award in as many days.
“Really excited that he won the Davey O’Brien award,” Dykes said. “I mean just a really cool, fitting award for him. Kind of [built] in the same mold, somebody who overcame a lot and persevered. It’s pretty amazing that he’s the first TCU player to win it.”
Duggan received the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award on Wednesday in Baltimore and will head to New York this weekend for the Heisman Trophy presentation.
Duggan led the Big 12 in a variety of categories this season, including passing touchdowns, passing yards and passer rating. Duggan was one of only two quarterbacks nationally to record more than 3,300 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and just four interceptions.
The Davey O’Brien Award began in 1977 as the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy, shortly after O’Brien’s passing. For the first four years, it was awarded to the best player in the Southwest regardless of position. Earl Campbell, Billy Sims and Mike Singletary are the only non-quarterbacks to ever receive the award.
In 1981 the award was renamed to the Davey O’Brien Award and designated as an award specifically for the nation’s best college quarterback in a given season.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am for him and for TCU people and for the city of Fort Worth that he’s going to be representing the Davey O’Brien award and is the recipient of that award,” Dykes said. “What a cool what a cool tribute to him.”
Jamie Plunkett, jamie@frogstoday.com
