FORT WORTH, Texas — The Davey O’Brien Foundation today announced that BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Retzlaff has started every game for No. 7-ranked BYU, leading the Cougars to a perfect 9-0 start. The 6-1, 205-pound junior from Corona, California, has competed 152 of 262 passes for 2,091 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is also the Cougars' third-leading rusher with 71 carries for 291 yards and four additional scores.
The junior signal caller is responsible for 14.9 points per game for the BYU offense. He has multiple touchdown passes in 7 of 9 games this season, thrown for 200 or more yards in five consecutive games and 8 of 9 contests in 2024 while rushing for a score in each of the last three games. Retzlaff has led the Cougars to 33.7 points per game en route to an undefeated start.
For his performance over the first half of the season, Retzlaff was previously named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024, as well as the Midseason Big 12 Quarterback of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team by College Football Network. The Cougar co-captain was also named to the Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey O'Brien Great 8 list for his efforts in BYU’s 38-35 comeback win over Oklahoma State in week seven.
Retzlaff and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado are the only Big 12 quarterbacks named to 16-member semifinalist list.
The next round of the Davey O’Brien Award selection process will include fan voting that will take place on @DaveyOBrien social media account Instagram, Twitter (X) and Facebook from now through midnight (ET) on Friday, Nov. 22. The top vote getters on each of the three social media platforms will receive bonus committee votes which will be added to the ballots cast by the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee.
The Foundation will then announce three finalists for the award on Nov. 26. The winner of the 2024 Davey O'Brien Award will be unveiled live on ESPN on Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The 48th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Feb. 17, 2025, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Since former Consensus All-American Jim McMahon won the inaugural quarterback award in 1981, two other BYU signal callers have won the prestigious award, including Steve Young (1983) and Ty Detmer (1990 and 1991). Only Oklahoma, with five, has won more Davey O'Brien Awards than BYU. Detmer is one of only four players to have won the award more than once.
2024 Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalists
Drew Allar, Penn State, Jr., 6-5, 235, Medina, Ohio
Bryson Daily, Army West Point, Sr., 6-0, 221, Abernathy, Texas
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-2, 225, Kaysville, Utah
Quinn Ewers, Texas, Jr., 6-2, 210, Southlake, Texas
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, Sr., 6-0, 200, Mililani, Hawaii
Blake Horvath, Navy, Jr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio
Will Howard, Ohio State, Sr., 6-4, 235, Downingtown, Pa.
Kevin Jennings, SMU, So., 6-0, 185, Oak Cliff, Texas
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Jr., 6-2, 210, Austin, Texas
John Mateer, Washington State, So., 6-1, 219, Little Elm, Texas
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 225, Katy, Texas
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.
Jake Retzlaff, BYU, Jr., 6-1, 205, Corona, Calif.
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana, Sr., 6-5, 223, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Sr., 6-2, 215, Dallas, Texas
Cam Ward, Miami, Sr., 6-2, 223, West Columbia, Texas