After a 395-yard, five-touchdown performance against Cincinnati, OU quarterback Sam Bradford has been named the Davey O’Brien Foundation’s Quarterback of the Week.
Bradford’s yardage and touchdown totals, as well as his 29 completions, were all career highs. It was the third time in his short career Bradford has thrown for more than 300 yards.
“Sam was fantastic at the line of scrimmage,” head coach Bob Stoops said in postgame comments. “Sam’s such a good decision-maker. You have confidence to do whatever you want to do. I thought he threw the ball incredibly well.”
Bradford was named an O’Brien Award semifinalist last season, but lost to Missouri’s Chase Daniel, Oregon’s Dennis Dixon and Florida’s Tim Tebow — who went on to win the award.
This is the first time Bradford has been a recipient of the foundation’s weekly award, despite leading the nation in passing efficiency last season.
The Davey O’Brien Foundation — named after Heisman trophy-winning TCU quarterback Davey O’Brien — selects one quarterback every week to receive the honor. At this point in the season, the quarterbacks from all 119 Football Bowl Division teams are eligible.
The foundation will present the annual Davey O’Brien Award to the nation’s best quarterback on Dec. 11. The list will be trimmed to 15 semi-finalists on Oct. 24, and then to three finalists on Nov. 24.
The O’Brien Award is given to a player who excels athletically and academically, and who shows strong leadership.
Bradford was one of 31 quarterbacks included on the award’s preseason watch list, and is expected to compete for the honor at the end of the year. Only one Sooner — Jason White — has previously received the award.
White was presented with it in both 2003 and 2004, making him one of only three players to be honored more than once. The other two were Danny Wuerrfel of Florida (in 1995-96) and Ty Detmer of Brigham Young (in 1990-91).
Five of the last seven players to be given the O’Brien Award — which includes White — also won the Heisman Trophy, given to the nation’s best player.
Fans can register and vote for any quarterback at www.VoteOBrien.org. The top three players who garner the most votes will be added to the semifinalist list, and fan voting will count five percent toward the selection of the eventual winner.
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