Beathard, Daniels named to more watch lists
By Hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior quarterback C.J. Beathard has been named to the 2016 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Thursday. The Davey O’Brien Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback.
Beathard (6-foot-2, 209-pounds) started all 14 games at quarterback last season, passing for 2,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while rushing for 237 yards and six touchdowns. The Franklin, Tennessee, native guided the Hawkeyes to an undefeated regular season (12-2 overall) and its first Rose Bowl since 1991
A team captain in 2015, Beathard earned second team All-Big Ten honors by league coaches and media and third team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele at the end of the season. Earlier this month, he was named to the Maxwell Trophy Watch List, presented annually to the National College Football Player of the Year. He was also named preseason second team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports.
The 2016 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List includes 30 of the nation’s top college quarterbacks. Nearly half (14) of the players on the watch list are seniors, while 11 juniors and five sophomores round out the contingent. Among leagues, the Big 12 Conference and Big Ten Conference lead the way with five nominees apiece.
Sixteen semifinalists for the award will be named on Nov. 10. From that list, the Foundation and the Selection Committee will announce the three finalists on Nov. 22. The 2016 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be announced Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Iowa has had two Davey O’Brien Award winners in its program history – Chuck Long (1985) and Brad Banks (2002).
Iowa opens the 2016 season at home on Sept. 3, hosting Miami (Ohio) inside Kinnick Stadium.
DANIELS NAMED TO DOAK WALKER WATCH LIST: Senior running back LeShun Daniels, Jr., has been named to the 2016 Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday. The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.
Daniels, Jr., (6-foot-0, 225 pounds) saw action in 12 games with five starts last season. The running back scored eight touchdowns from week 8-11, including a three-touchdown performance in Iowa’s 40-35 win over Minnesota on Nov. 14. His performance against the Gophers earned him honorable mention National Performer of the Week accolades by College Football Performance Awards. Daniels, Jr., accumulated 646 rushing yards – the second highest total on the team – in 145 attempts, and was listed as the first team running back following spring practice.
A native of Warren, Ohio, Daniels, Jr., was named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List on Wednesday. The award is presented to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists on November 16, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists, who will be announced on November 22. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 28 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2016 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 8 on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas in early 2017. Iowa’s Shonn Greene earned the 2008 Doak Walker Award.