O'Brien Quarterback Award Finalists Announced

FORT WORTH, Texas (November 24, 2008) - The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) today proudly announced its 2008 Finalists. These three Big 12 quarterbacks were selected from the Semifinalist List and will continue to fight for The O'Brien to earn the title as the nation's best quarterback. To date fans have cast more than 80,000 votes for their favorite quarterbacks. Fans are encouraged to continue voting for Finalists once daily at www.VoteOBrien.org. The voting will continue until December 7 with 5% of the final tally coming directly from the Fan Vote.

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
This sophomore quarterback from Oklahoma City, Okla. operates the no-huddle offense of the No. 3 (BCS) Sooners. He leads the Big 12 with a quarterback rating of 193.76 and has directed Oklahoma to a 10-1 record this season. Bradford has passed for 3,710 yards and 42 touchdowns this season, in addition to rushing for four.

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
Harrell, a senior from Ennis, Texas, has led Texas Tech to the most successful season in school history while in his third year as starting quarterback for the Red Raiders. The nation's leader in passing with 4,438 yards, Harrell has accounted for 45 touchdowns this season (39 passing, six rushing) while carrying the No. 7 Raiders to a 10-1 record.

Colt McCoy, Texas
McCoy has carried the 10-1 Longhorns to a No. 2 ranking in his third year as the starting quarterback for Texas. The junior from Tuscola, Texas holds the nation's highest completion percentage (77.2 percent) and has thrown for 3,134 yard and 30 touchdowns this season. He also leads the Longhorns in rushing with 527 yards and eight touchdowns.

"Each of these young men has proven himself exceptionally talented in the midst of thick competition at the quarterback position," said Danielle Moorman, executive director of the Davey O'Brien Foundation. "All three are strong leaders of their teams, and we are excited to honor them for their performance both on and off the football field."

Moorman also explained that the Selection Committee had a difficult task at hand due to the fierce competition among quarterbacks this year. "With this year's pool of quarterbacks so full of talent, every vote counted, causing our voting to come down to the wire."

Finalists were selected by The O'Brien Selection Committee, comprised of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, as well as by fans across the country accounting for five percent of the overall vote. The Selection Committee is asked to evaluate each candidate on his quarterback skills, athletic ability, academics, character, leadership, sportsmanship and reputation as a team player. For a complete listing of O'Brien Selection Committee members, click here.

These three Finalists will continue to vie for the award until the Winner is announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 11. All Finalists will be in attendance in Orlando, Fla., for the awards show. The O'Brien recipient will be honored February 16, 2009, at the 32nd Annual O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

About The O'Brien Fan Vote
Fans can now register and vote for The O'Brien Fan Vote online at www.VoteOBrien.org to show their support for their favorite Finalist. The Fan Vote will count as 5% in determining the Winner. The 2008 Winner will be announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing December 11 on ESPN. The recipient will be honored February 16, 2009, at the 32nd Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fans can download an interactive "widget" featuring a voting link and the ability to post and share on Web sites, social networks and blogs by clicking here.

Fans can also show their support by adding The O'Brien Facebook application to their Facebook Profile. The new application can be found by searching O'Brien Fan Vote and clicking the applications tab or by clicking here.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Texas Tech)