Copyright Hartford Courant
UConn’s Joe Fagnano was named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Wednesday. Fagnano, who was also listed No. 1 in CBS Sports’ quarterback power rankings on Wednesday, became the first quarterback since LSU’s Joe Burrow in 2019 to throw for at least 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in five-consecutive games as he guided the Huskies to their biggest win in the coach Jim Mora era over Duke on Saturday. The Williamsport, Penn., native was one of 20 semifinalists named for the award. The list includes only two returning semifinalists in Navy’s Blake Horvath and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, and all of the quarterbacks have led their teams to a combined record of 154-31 (.832). In his third year with the Huskies after spending the previous four at Maine, Fagnano ranks among the top QBs in the nation in almost every statistical category. He ranks second in passing yards (2,840), third in passing TDs (25), seventh in points responsible for (164), 10th in passing yards per game (284.0), 11th in completions per game (23.6) and passing efficiency (162.4) and 19th in completion percentage (.688). He is the only quarterback in the nation with at least 100 passing attempts and no interceptions. You can now vote for UConn’s Joe Fagnano to win the Heisman Trophy With two regular season games still to play, at home against Air Force and at FAU, Fagnano is approaching multiple single-season program records. His 236 completions this season ranks fourth all-time in the school record books, and is 52 completions away from the record set by Dan Orlovsky in 2004. His 2,840 passing yards ranks third and is 645 yards away from the UConn record, set by Orlovsky in 2003. And his 25 touchdowns also ranks third, eight away from the UConn mark, which was also set by Orlovsky in 2003. Fagnano is joined on this year’s semifinalist list by Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Bear Bachmeier (BYU), Byrum Borwn (USF), CJ Carr (Notre Dame), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Blake Horvath (Navy), Haynes King (Georgia Tech), Jayden Maiava (USC), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Darian Mensah (Duke), Drew Mestemaker (North Texas), Dante Moore (Oregon), Chandler Morris (Virginia), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Marcel Reed (Texas A&M), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), and Gunner Stockton (Georgia). Three finalists for the Davey O’Brien Award will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the second round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote, according to a release. The finalists will be announced on Nov. 25, and the winner will be revealed live on ESPN on Dec. 12 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
